In the wake of the first big challenge of his tenure as Bristol County sheriff, Paul Heroux spoke with host Jack Spillane as the special guest of The Chat.
In his first 100 days as sheriff, Heroux has come up with a plan to reduce the high suicide rate at the Bristol County House of Correction and also to close the long outdated Ash Street Jail, built in 1888.
Sheriff Heroux’s proposal would remedy a situation in which about half the cells at the jail, by court order, cannot be locked because they do not possess toilets. He’s appealed to the South Coast legislative delegation and the administration of Gov. Maura Healey to help him remedy the longstanding problem that makes the Bristol facility particularly vulnerable during riots or disturbances.
The latest of those uprisings took place on Friday, April 21.
THE CHAT ARCHIVES
Video: Voc-Tech education justice group joins The Chat
Members of the Vocational Education Justice Coalition talk about their concerns that school admissions policies still prevent access to vocational education for many students in New Bedford.
Video: Can Josh Amaral help solve New Bedford’s housing mess?
Josh Amaral, the new director of New Bedford’s Housing and Community Development Office, joined Jack Spillane to talk about the city’s just released comprehensive housing program for spurring development.
Video: Watch The Chat with Rep. Chris Hendricks
The state representative spent time with host Jack Spillane discussing his priorities as he represents some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the central part of the city.