Recently, I heard Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian speak about what is happening now in our Middlesex Jail and House of Corrections, and what he thinks should be changed. His theme was “we can do better” — better treatment of people in the system, producing less recidivism and less expense.
I was also shocked to learn that the average life expectancy for corrections officers is 59, which reflects all sorts of stress-induced problems. (The life expectancy for U.S. men is 77 and for women 81.)
Sheriff Koutoujian will speak at 6 p.m. Monday, July 13, at the First Unitarian Society, 1326 Washington St., West Newton.
I encourage you to go, both because I’m sure you will learn a lot from hearing his insider’s perspective (I certainly did!) and because I think it is important for him to see that lots of us care about these issues. Like legislators, sheriffs are elected officials. Unlike legislators, one sheriff can make a big difference in what happens in the facilities under his control.
I believe Sheriff Koutoujian is trying to use his office to make our criminal-justice system function better, and he needs our support and urging to continue that work.
Don’t get me wrong — it’s important to keep contacting our legislators too. But I increasingly believe that just thinking about laws and legislators is short-sighted.
For a broader view, subscribe to the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition email list here >>
This viewpoint was published Thursday, July 2, 2015.
