DATE: February 18, 2008
CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe, Public Information Manager
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl has been selected to serve as the vice chair of the Broward County Public Safety Coordinating Council Advisory Board.
The Coordinating Council Advisory Board assesses the population status of all detention or correctional facilities owned or contracted by Broward County and formulates recommendations to ensure that jail overcrowding doesn't occur.
"I'm honored to be elected by the Council to serve as vice chair," said Commissioner Keechl. "This is a hard working, dedicated Council and in a short period of time we've made a lot of progress."
Recently, the Public Safety Coordinating Council Advisory Board recommended the expansion of the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Pretrial Release Program in order to reduce the number of inmates held in the county jail on minor, non-felony crimes and low bonds. Criminals who have been convicted or sentenced are not eligible for the program.
Commissioner Keechl sponsored the agenda item at the January 18 meeting of the Broward County Commission and convinced his colleagues to expand the program.
A recent study by the National Institute of Corrections noted that 975 inmates are detained on bonds of $5,000 or less, including 381 with bonds under $1,000 in Broward County.
Additional issues addressed by the Council include assessing the availability of pretrial intervention or probation programs, work-release programs, substance abuse programs, and mental health programs.
This 18-member Advisory Council consists of various individuals, including appointees from the County Commission, the Sheriff's Department, Corrections, the Judiciary, the Public Defender's office and the State Attorney's office. Dr. Henry Mack was selected to serve as the chair of the Advisory Council.
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