Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Monday, July 19, 2010

Today's Survey Question

Do You Believe Much Of The Crime & Gangs In Salisbury
Are Due To Prisoners Being Released By ECI
To This Area?

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's part of it the main reason is this is a drug corridor from NY to FLA and is a safe haven .

Anonymous said...

yes

Anonymous said...

no, I blame it on our permissive society. These are local homeboys doing this and we just sit here and take it and take it and take it.

Anonymous said...

I think so... I also some moved here from the metro area becasue of the last police chief we had... They knew he wouldn't find them...

Anonymous said...

I think it has more to do with the Judges who are sentencing them. Last time I checked, they controlled a lot of what happens to these punks. Apparently not enough. Slaps on the wrists just adds more to the reputation.

Anonymous said...

Damn Right!! I agree 100%!!!!!

Anonymous said...

You either have to put up with it or your a racist .

Anonymous said...

Should be an easy enough question to answer. How many of the suspects are former ECI inmates? On the face of it, it seems like these are local criminals, mostly teenagers and young adults.

Anonymous said...

It certainly doesn't help the situation, now does it?

Anonymous said...

Not at all. You are blowing the crime that Salisbury has compared to other places out of proportion. Every town, city, county, state has crime.

Anonymous said...

Just as kids are a reflection of their home environment, this crime is a reflection of What is running the County and the City.

Anonymous said...

I agree. When you are sentenced for 10 years and serve 2 what good did that do?

Anonymous said...

Hell yes!

word verification: bikers (they are the best in our area!)

Anonymous said...

I would blame the prosecutors. They just don't seek harsh sentences for criminals. 90% of cases are stet or not processed. The justice system is broken and we have very little chance of it being repaired. If you do a crime in Wicomico or Somerset you will walk away without even a wrist slap. Things need to change.

Anonymous said...

That's right that every city has crime, but you have to weigh crime vs. population. That's why we are often referred to as little Baltimore b/c our crime to population ratio is so high. And I believe it was a lot to do with ECI and WCDC, along with the other programs Salisbury offers. Additionally, Salisbury is where Rts. 50 & 13 intersect, making it a gateway for drug trafficking. Also, the "resort" towns east of us also land money in the hands of drug dealers, as well as provide infinite targets for other criminals. And, in my opinion, those who say we are blowing Salisbury's crime out of proportion does not know what truly happens. There are many, many crimes that the public doesn't hear or read about.

Anonymous said...

ECI is not a contributing factor to the increased crime in Salisbury in my opinion. Sure, many criminals released may stay on the shore but the reason they stay and commit crime is because they know they can. Salisbury as a whole takes no pride in itself and it shows, all you have to do is take a ride/walk through downtown to see that. Crime rates are high and anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. Salisbury allows crimes to happen because everyone wants to keep their heads in the sand and pretend it isn't going on. Everyone out there needs to do some research and look at crime statistics. Sure the crime rate may look low compared to larger cities but look at the crime rates per capita. You are less likely to be a victim of crime in DC or Baltimore than you are in Salisbury MD and it is only going to get worse if people who live in Salisbury don't really start pushing their leaders to take a stand.

Anonymous said...

its america's attitude. we are a "gimme state". people nowadays think they can take whatever they want. we are seriously lacking in personal accountability.

the founding fathers had an idea of the "pursuit of happiness". this did not mean we should take it from someone else. pursuit was meant to be synonomous with "work for it".

Anonymous said...

Of course those criminals released from ECI are setting up here to continue their crimes, they know and hear the problems we have getting offenders convicted and the short sentences they receive we are a mecca for them. We even have a half-way house presently on Madison St. in Salisbury where they get out and are given a place to board, and jump right into one of the worst burglary and assault areas in all of Salisbury. These landlords don't care as long as they get the money, most of the landlords are in Western Md. or out of state. Check out the one on the corner of Madison and Prince see if it's not so people. We give them all it's like" Motel 6 we'll even leave the light on guys"!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 11:31 AM

Salisbury's crime rate is the highest in Maryland and one of the highest in the country. Go to www.city-data.org and check out the stats.

Anonymous said...

Judge problem.

Anonymous said...

It is because wicomico county receives money to put students that were expelled from Metropolitan school systems. Those gangbangers arent going to suddenly change just because they are shipped to the eastern shore. Just keep bothering the college students instead of the real criminals and things will change.

Anonymous said...

It certainly does not help

Anonymous said...

of course!!! when they are released from ECI with no money, no job, etc. they settle right in in our area. and, with the poor police effort, they can continue with their old line of work undisturbed. if you don't believe there are gangs in Salisbury, do yourself a favor and take a quick drive down church st. Even in the middle of the day, you will see groups of 4 to 5 men loafing on any number of street corners, all wearing the same white t-shirt. It's not a coincidence that every one in the hood decided to wear the same outfit that day. wake up salisbury!

Anonymous said...

1:52 you've said it all, I have nothing to add, very well stated

Anonymous said...

I think ECI plays a major role in why there is an influx in the drug use in this area. As we all know drug users are not rehabilitated in prison, they are just released the same if not worse back into society. Gangs have been around everywhere since the beginning of time that's why we have a heaven and a hell, the good and the bad, the cowboys and the indians, the cops and the robbers, the dumb and the dumber. The disadvantaged children of this area have nothing to do. While we focus on crime in the area we should also focus on the children of our community and helping their future. An idle mind is the devils playground. All be blessed.

Anonymous said...

One of the stipulations in allowing ECI to be in Somerset County was a requirement by Judge Simpkins that ALL prisioners were to be returned to Baltimore for release. NO releases in Somerset unless a resident.

Anonymous said...

One of the stipulations in allowing ECI to be in Somerset County was a requirement by Judge Simpkins that ALL prisioners were to be returned to Baltimore for release. NO releases in Somerset unless a resident.

Anonymous said...

Local people who end up at ECI have to join gangs to survive. When they get out, they are home. Then they recruit the young people and control them just like they were controlled in prison. If children are not taught and parented correctly at home there will always be the gangs to be their family.

Anonymous said...

Inmates leaving ECI generally will go back to where they lived prior to incarceration. They just aren't turned out the door and end up in Salisbury. What do you suggest? Let's just not let any more inmates be released.

Anonymous said...

the real gangs are the white collar ones the city bureaucrats politicians and development speculators who's petty dramas keep the city from righting its ills with police and fire officials and community safety

Anonymous said...

The boy mayor and Lore Chambers wants to institute more programs for prisoners after their release. She wants to train them so they can find jobs and stay here rather than give them that one way ticket back to where they came from. I think she should let them move in her house out in Nithsdale with her family while they are in training.

Anonymous said...

I would say that very little has to do with inmates being released to the area. I see that may of them return home once released. It is the judicial system as previously stated. They get these criminals to rat on one another while the rat continues to commit notorius crimes. Why not lock all their ____ up. We need better investigation and the system that will see that the get the maximum sentence rather than this bull that I see. Also, these parents have some idea as to what their children or should I say monsters are doing. It time that these parents take a stand. But no, so many parents are out there committing the same crimes that their hoodlums are doing. There is no home training.

Anonymous said...

If the "gangstas" had to go out and work for a living like normal people, their numbers would dwindle. The Liberals are paying them not to work, consequently their idle time spawns crime and contempt for the very people who feed, clothe, and subsidize their very existence. Cut out the entitlements and crime will decrease.

Anonymous said...

The inmates don't generally return to where they came from- at least not for long. While incarcerated, they network with local thugs- and here's a shocker- prison guards. They often set up camp on the shore, and travel between Baltimore, Philly, and the E. Shore. If you really think that they return to where they came from, you are sorely mistaken.

Upon release from ECI, they are dropped off at the bus station in Princess Anne. No one makes sure they get on the bus- essentially, they are turned loose in the streets of Princess Anne. But don't worry, those poor felons aren't homeless. That's what they spent 5 or more years doing- building up a support system for when they get out.

And yes, ECI came with the expectation that no out of area prisoners would be kept in the area. It's not enforced.

Sometimes I think that to solve this problem, we should just send the prisoners to an island all their own- on a monthly basis, do an air drop of necessary supplies. Let them figure it out- survival of the fittest, so to speak- or a Lord of the Flies scenario. I haven't figured out what should happen for those that are later found not guilty based on new evidence- as my recommendation stands, they would pretty much be stuck. Hmmm... How funny- my word verification is "boati"

Anonymous said...

I do not have to think it, I know releases from ECI have and continue to increase the crime in this ares. Having worked within the Md Department of Public Safety for some 34 years, I have seen time and again inmates released with a home plan of The inmate will reside in the Salisbury area or the inmate is released to a well known shelter in Salisbury. Add to this the Judical system in Salisbury and to the criminal element it's Home to Salisbury!!

Anonymous said...

Poplar Hill is the one that has the program that gets them a job and then they are released here in Salisbury of course they are going to stay it is pre release program it has been going on for a long time

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:52 & 5:05, you are so wrong. Inmates released from ECI who resided in Baltimore prior to incarceration ARE released in Salisbury. I worked @ ECI so I know the routine. Inmates have 40 dollars in their cash account paid by us tax payers and this is supposed to help them get back to Baltimore via Trailways. The transportation unit from ECI, just DROPS them off at the trailways station. They don't make sure they get on the bus. I have seen it time and time again. Check it out sometimes. Remember a stabbing on rose street some years back? Inmate Rodney Stroud was dropped off at the bus station and instead of going back home, he stayed. He ended up on rose street and got into an altercation and stabbed someone and made them paralyzed. Gangs are all over Salisbury!! SPD needs to use the task force more!! Bust down the operations! Too many drug dealers in this area.