To the editor:

Do we really want to increase the number of people inhabiting our county jail? After the recent protests and trying to bring to light the injustices that have occurred and continue to happen, much has been revealed about the inequalities of social justice, housing, health care, job opportunities, etc. for nonwhites in particular.

Expanding the jail would only bring about the need to fill it.

Perhaps that initial $30 million could be better spent in areas of providing more help for mental health, general health, addiction clinics, training in job opportunities, and providing internet and computer availability.

This would also eliminate the expenses that would go with expanding the jail — facilities, workers, loan costs, sales tax, etc.

Thank you to the county commissioners for “putting on pause” the approval of the jail expansion because of the reduced number of inmates due to COVID-19 and some unknowns ahead with elections coming up.

With all the protests here and nationwide concerning equal rights for all, one would pray that things will change, that we can all be apart of that, and that an expansion of the jail will not be necessary.

Karen L. Heeb,

Lawrence