The legislation states that there will be 11 panel members who will serve three-year terms, and those on the panel will be appointed by various local agencies and county government officials, so that representation on the board will be diverse and more evenly distributed.
"There are very specific people in county leadership in terms of jail management and public advocacy groups that will appoint people to serve on the board," said Baskin. "So, we'll start to look at those people to make their board appointments after it's formally signed into law, and then we'll have our additional oversight here at the legislature of community professionals who have led careers in corrections to add additional oversight to the malpractice that's happening in our holding center."
Of the 50 or so people who were in attendance for the meeting, the vast majority were in full support of the legislation.
"Although our law enforcement officials are the experts in the field, there are other knowledgable community members from a mental health, legal, government and prison advocacy organizations who have expertise to share and a strong committment to making our sheriff's department jail management division a better organization," said Bernie Tolbert. "That is why I join with the many others for such position and such an action. The citizens of Erie County deserve nothing less."
"The Erie County Holding Center is notorious for inmate deaths - approximately 26 in 10 years is a heinous statistic and indicative of a lack of responsible inmate care at the absolute minimum," said Robinson. "Professional, independent and community oversight of the sheriff's department is very much needed, and we urge you to adopt the proposed legislation."
And Baskin believes there is support within the legislature.
"It has been a long time coming, and I believe that we've done the work and we have a strong case," said Baskin. "I do believe that enough of my colleagues in the legislature will make sure that we get this done."