Criminal justice review panel still won't lift veil of secrecy

There was a meeting Tuesday of the committee charged with finding out why Mahoning County's criminal justice system is in such disarray and what can be done to make it function effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, as has been the case since the original12 members began their deliberations six months ago, the public was prohibited from attending the proceedings.
Why the secrecy? Because members think they're doing us all a favor by keeping government's dirty laundry out of sight. Of course, the public explanation for barring reporters and other interested residents is that honest discussion about the criminal justice system can only occur in private. That's rubbish, of course, but the committee -- it calls itself a working group -- is not considered a public body, as defined by state and federal laws, and cannot be forced to let the sunshine in.
Thus on Tuesday, Mahoning County Commissioner John V. McNally IV explained to a Vindicator reporter that the question of opening up the sessions to the public was broached at a previous meeting and that the consensus was to keep the doors closed. McNally did say that a synopsis of the deliberations would be made public. Such a compromise, if you can call it that, misses the point completely.
Crisis
The criminal justice system in Mahoning County, from the courts down to law enforcement, has been in crisis for a long time. That's not just our opinion, it's the conclusion drawn by Atty. Vincent M. Nathan of Toledo, who was appointed special master by U.S. District Court Judge David Dowd to oversee the county jail. Dowd has been presiding over a lawsuit filed by inmates who claim that overcrowding in the jail is a violation of their constitutional rights.
The judge appointed Nathan to delve into the jail's operation, and as part of that assignment he issued a 22-page evaluation that said the facility's problems "are the result of a dysfunctional criminal justice system." He recommended the formation of a working group to address the myriad problems affecting law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor's office, the courts and the jail.
Nathan suggested that representatives of the courts, the sheriff and prosecutor, police in Youngstown, Austintown and Boardman, the county auditor and the Community Corrections Association serve on the panel.
He has received interim reports from the group. A remedial plan must be submitted by May 1.
But given the lack of public access to the work of the criminal justice review committee, the final document will be a whitewash as far as laying blame -- and that's unfortunate. Taxpayers have a right to know why the system is dysfunctional. Other counties don't have the problems that confront Mahoning County. So, why here? Where are the weak links? Who has dropped the ball?
To those who argue that there is nothing to gained by pointing the finger of blame, we say that public officials must be held responsible for their actions, or inactions, and must be called to account for the less-than-acceptable performance of their duties.