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Onondaga County approves jail oversight commission

Ellen Abbott/WRVO
Supporters of a jail oversight commission at Tuesday's Onondaga County Legislature's meeting

At a time when police community relations are at historic lows across the country, Onondaga County lawmakers have made a move they hope will repair some of the trust between central New Yorkers and the Onondaga County Justice Center.  

There was a rare standing ovation for Onondaga County lawmakers Tuesday.

Applause followed a unanimous vote to create a jail oversight commission.  This independent group will review serious incidents at the Justice Center, and make reports to the legislature and the sheriff’s department.  

The oversight commission has been years in the making, following the deaths of two inmates at the jail in 2009 and 2010. Supporters say it will lead to transparency at the jail, and offer inmates a pathway for their concerns.  

Walt Dixie, of Syracuse, was at the legislature’s meeting and hopes this move helps the community get past those deaths.

"It’s been long overdue and we need to look from this moving forward as a healing process, and I think it will be,” said Dixie.

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO
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WRVO
Walt Dixie, of Syracuse, was one of the supporters of the new jail oversight commission that spoke at Tuesday's legislature meeting

Barrie Gewanter , executive director of the of the Central New York Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union says this commission creates accountability and transparency at the jail.

"It is not meant to engage in a battle over accusations, but actually to help increase the peace, by providing a pathway to be heard,” said Gewanter.

Lawmakers also agreed that the position of human rights commissioner should be filled, and that person will act as the director of the commission.    

Yusaf Abdul-Qadir hopes something like this can repair some of the trust that’s been lost between citizens and government.

"I think today is a great time to say that well, we can do good. Government can do a good job. And I think Syracuse as a city, and Onondaga County as a county is small enough to show the country, how this can be done,” said Abdul-Qadir.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.