Sheriff Jim Quattrone, standing, discusses creating a community re-entry hub for people released from the jail during the Mayville Village Board meeting. Also pictured is Mayille Clerk John Crandall. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon
MAYVILLE – To prevent recently released jail inmates from hanging around the village while trying to get back home, Sheriff Jim Quattrone is proposing a new program.
While a lot of Mayville residents appreciate the concept, many are opposed to the proposed location in the business district, prompting the sheriff to look for it to go somewhere else.
During Tuesday’s Mayville Village Board meeting, Quattrone was in attendance and discussed creating a “community re-entry hub” at 28 S. Erie St.
“The purpose of a re-entry hub is not only to allow individuals being released from the Chautauqua County Jail an opportunity to re-organize their lives, but also to improve safety of the surrounding community,” Quatrone explained. “Many are released from the jail and end up wandering around the village trying to cash checks, charge cell phones, ask for money, and some commit crimes in the village – all things we have heard complaints from the community about.”
Quattrone noted that the Sheriff’s Office has no authority over the individuals once they are released.
Sheriff Jim Quattrone proposed putting a community re-entry hub at 28 S. Erie St., Mayville, the storefront on the left in this photo. After residents complained about it being in the business district, the sheriff said he is looking for another location. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon
“The re-entry hub would be an endeavor to solve some of these issues by offering a safe (for community and released individuals) place to begin their healthy assimilation back into the community,” he said in a written statement.
Some of the services the community hub would possibly offer include:
– A place to wait for transportation to their community of preference;
– A place to collect a CHQ Pass and wait for CHQ Transit;
– A place to charge their phones and make telephone calls;
– Work with re-entry specialist to review discharge plan or to create a re-entry plan;
– Staff can assist in reviewing of needs for photo identification and other basic needs;
– Assistance with Department of Social Services applications;
– Obtain lists of food pantries and other services that will assist in successful re-entry;
– Education on overdose prevention and the particular dangers for those leaving jail;
– Communication/video conferencing with NY Matters which is critical for many leaving jail;
– Clothes closet for returning to community, including appropriate clothing and coats;
– Connect individuals with housing: shelters, warming centers, respite housing, temporary/emergency housing;
– Gather information from individuals for follow up;
– A source of information regarding various services: Behavioral health clinics, warming centers/shelters, Chautauqua Works, Mental Health Association, etc. Connection with peer support when appropriate.
“Ideally the hub can remove the issue of released individuals wandering the village and hanging out in businesses bothering customers or employees. Also it may reduce various thefts around the village and other criminal acts,” Quattrone explained.
The hub would be staffed by both current county employees and volunteers. Quattrone wasn’t certain on the staffing hours but said at least in the beginning it would not be open weekends or overnight hours.
CENTRALIZED ARRAIGNMENT
One of the difficulties, Quattrone noted, is that his office has no control when inmates are released. In the past, a person was charged and appeared before a judge in a local courtroom. That created problems for smaller municipalities, finding a judge and getting proper representation for a suspect.
Beginning in 2019, all police departments in the county, excluding Jamestown and Dunkirk, transport individuals charged with a serious felony or misdemeanor charge to Mayville, so they can be arraigned at the soonest possible time. Those arraignments take place inside the jail itself.
Quattrone said generally arraignments take place from 8-11 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.
Other times a person who has been arraigned in a town court may need to come back to the jail to get personal belongings. After they get their belongings, they’re on their own.
Inmates who have fulfilled their sentence can be released just after midnight.
Quattrone said the state does not allow him to say when inmates can and can’t be released. He would prefer it take place Monday-Friday during working hours, but that is not the way the law works.
He also said releasing inmates at all times of the day is not a recent issue.
“Since 1939 (when the jail was built), they’ve been releasing inmates at all times of the day, all days of the week,” Quattrone said.
Quattrone said inmates who are released are given a bag of supplies, including a bus pass for CHQ Transit, a list of resources and Narcan.
They do offer former inmates rides, but a lot of them decline.
“They don’t want to get in the back of a police car,” Quattrone said.
Once they refuse a ride, there’s little he can do.
“When we release them from the jail we have no authority over them. I can’t make them get into a car. I can’t make them get into the CARTS bus. I can’t make them come to a re-entry hub. What we want to do is encourage that to prevent the loitering,” Quattrone said.
AFFECTED COMMUNITY RESIDENTS
Rick Newell, who owns Lakeview Hotel and Restaurant on Route 394 said released inmates stop by his business all the time, especially at night. He questioned the effectiveness if they’re not staffing the hub 24 hours a day.
“We’re kind of at a loss because if the center is not open and you’re letting people go at 10, 11 o’clock at night, where are they going to go? The Lakeview Hotel because we’re the only ones open. … I don’t think this is going to be the answer unless you’re going to be open 24/7,” he said.
Jim Livengood owns Chautauqua Liquor & Wine on South Erie Street. Former inmates will come into his store looking to use a phone, but sometimes things get worse.
“These people come out of jail … yelling at me about the treatment they got at the jail. It might not be true; it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, they’re saying it, so I have to escort them out of my business,” he said.
Livengood said business owners on South Erie Street are worried incidents like this are going to increase with the hub being proposed in one of the downtown business buildings.
“I just think this is an inappropriate place,” he said.
Another business owner agreed.
“I think this whole idea is really good but this plan is not thoughtful or comprehensive enough. It’s a good start, but it’s not thoughtful, in that it’s at the expense of the business owners and the village with a location on Main Street,” she said.
Some residents suggested finding a place in the jail itself while others proposed using the former Mayville High School, where the Chautauqua town offices are located.
Quattrone said he doesn’t have space in the jail. He also is worried the Chautauqua Municipal Building is too far from the jail and inmates won’t walk there, especially in bad weather.
After the meeting, Quattrone emailed The Post-Journal/OBSERVER and said he recognizes that many residents are opposed to the location and he is looking for an alternative site.
“The opposition seems to be the location rather than concept. I am committed to the initiative and will continue to look for the location to best place it,” he wrote.
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