By Chris Jamele
Buffalo, NY – Issues stemming from events at the county's lock-ups have a prisoner's rights group and the County Legislature both aiming to establish a jail advisory panel.
The Buffalo News reports that the Prisoner's Rights Coalition is proposing an influentially balanced fifteen member panel.
The Legislature, however, appears to be favoring a proposal by Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Christina Bove for a nine member board that would be influenced by Sheriff Timothy Howard, County Attorney Cheryl Green and County Executive Chris Collins, all parties fighting an ongoing lawsuit by the US Justice Department that targets prisoner abuse at the county facilities.
A public hearing on the issue will be held on May eighteenth in Old County Hall.