Gang Violence Overflows Into Bagley County Jails
By Timothy Raines, Staff Writer
6/18/2006
A rise in the crime rate in Lincoln city is resulting in an overcrowding at both the Lincoln City Jail and the Bagley County Jail. Inmates are threatening a lawsuit if conditions are not improved. A family member of a Lincoln inmate reports that prisoners are not being given proper care violating their civil rights.
Overcrowding has resulted in a rise in the number of rival gang members incarcerated in the Bagley County Jails. This has led officials to ask the state to help assist in separating violent gangs from Johnson City and Lincoln City. There have been 15 separate reported incidents of gang related violence at the Bagley County Jail since May 21st.
A rise in gang activity has led to an increase in the population of the Bagley County Juvenile Home. “This gang problem is not going away anytime soon. We need to find ways to end this gang violence “ states Jonathan Van Eck, corrections office at the home. “Gang violence has put a serious strain on our corrections department and the cities in Bagley County.”
