New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
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“Thomas Hodgson was defeated in the last election due, to some extent, to the disclosure that while he was seemingly ignoring his major responsibilities as sheriff he was utilizing his employees, and subsidizing programs and activities completely unrelated to his mandated duties.
The promotion and effectuation of programs for children and the elderly can never be considered unimportant,and should be the responsibility of a reasonable and humane society. But, those functions are best served by organizations and governmental departments that have specifically allocated funds, not by a sheriff who is looking for media attention, a grateful voting constituency and had an ever decreasing staff to perform prison safety and rehabilitation functions.
The media consistently featured press releases from Hodgson announcing new community programs and purchases of equipment and reassignment of staff, but never articles about reduced recidivism, or stories about successfully rehabilitated people who had been incarcerated in the BCHOC.
A major consideration of an elected official in a managerial position is containing costs and maximizing the use of budgeted resources. The newly elected sheriff promised to abide by that principle and simultaneously reduce suicides, provide tested rehabilitation programs and most importantly keep the staff, the incarcerated and the community safer. And that is exactly what he is doing!” -Betty Ussach, Dartmouth.
