Addiction, release of inmates topics of meeting with law enforcement

Springfield Project ACTION sponsored a community meeting Tuesday night to give residents an opportunity to find out more about what the roles of law enforcement are and how they interact together and with the community.

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2016-03-23 / Front Page Addiction, release of inmates topics of meeting with law enforcement By Nancy A. Cavanaugh ncavanaugh@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Project ACTION sponsored a community meeting Tuesday night to give residents an opportunity to find out more about what the roles of law enforcement are and how they interact together and with the community. The main topic of discussion among the approximately 25 residents in attendance was addictions and the release of inmates into the community. After a brief introduction from chair of Springfield Project ACTION and selectboard member Stephanie Thompson, town moderator Pat Ankuda introduced each speaker — Springfield Police Chief Doug Johnston, Superintendent of the Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) Mark Potanas, and Supervisor of the Springfield Probation and Parole Office Joe Sampsell. Resident Becky Thomas wanted to know how many criminals each department dealt with that were struggling with addiction. “I couldn’t give you a number,” said Johnston. “They’re all intertwined. Some are committing larceny, some are selling to support their habit. If you read the town report, you’ll see there’s been a decrease. We’ve gone down in some areas.” Areas that have seen the biggest drops are auto thefts, driving under the influence, vandalism and larcenies from 2013-2014 to 2014-2015, according to the annual town report. “Ninety percent who come into the facility have co-occurring issues. Along with their antisocial criminal behavior they’re alcoholics or users of drugs. We’re seeing a rise in heroin use,” said Potanas. “That’s what’s affecting them currently. “Twenty percent are addicted. The number has never been higher or lower — what they’re addicted to has changed,” he continued. Sampsell’s answer was on par with Potanas. “I would say 90 percent, but that’s just a guess,” said Sampsell. Those who are addicted when they reach SSCF undergo detox, according to Potanas. “They are evaluated and put on a program,” he said. “They repeat it until they pass.” Resident Lori Claffee, who is a member of the Union/Park Neighborhood Association, wanted to know about inmates being released from SSCF and the perception that people from out of town are being released into Springfield. “No one not from Springfield is released into Springfield. That is an iron clad rule,” said Potanas. “We take them to the home they started from. If they came from Bellows Falls, we take them back to Bellows Falls.” There are times when that doesn’t happen, according to Sampsell. “If for whatever reason they don’t want to go back to their home of origin, they can be released in a new place but that is never in Springfield, it is in one of the towns surrounding Springfield,” he said. Other residents asked if inmates could be listed on the Springfield portion of the SSFC website when they were set to be paroled and if there was a way to find out what the conditions of release are. “Ninety-seven percent of those in the facility will be coming back out into the community, said Potanas. “With conditions of release, they are public record. Send your request to the central office and they will get the information shipped out to you,” he continued. Lastly, Potanas spoke about the SSFC as a business. “Business might be a funky word for it, but that’s what it is. Corrections is a requirement of society,” he said. “We are providing employment for 200 people. They are coming back into the community and spending that money. The money is staggering.” Some figures Potanas shared: The 48 employees who live in Springfield earn $1.4 million per year in regular pay and nearly $300,000 more in overtime, the facility spent $300,000 in water, paid the Town of Springfield nearly $70,000 in lieu of taxes, spent $267,000 on electricity, $61,000 to VTel, $246,000 in propane bought from a local vendor, and little more than $500,000 in food from local vendors. “It is a huge financial benefit for the town,” Potanas said. Selectboard Chair Kristi Morris thanked the guests for sharing with the community. “Not one agency can solve the problem. Project ACTION is a collaboration of agencies in Springfield,” he said. “We need to protect our livelihood in Springfield and need to be as proactive as possible. It is having an impact.”