I write this letter in support of the candidacy of Patrick Cahillane for Hampshire County sheriff. As a practicing lawyer in this area for 35 years and someone who has been in countless prisons and jails around the country during that time, I have seen first hand the difference that a good sheriff can make.
We are fortunate here in Hampshire County to have a legacy of progressive corrections. Pat will be the latest in a line of great Hampshire sheriffs going back to John Boyle and the current sheriff, Bob Garvey.
Our sheriffs understand that, as Garvey has said, “we send people to the House of Correction as punishment, not for punishment. “
It is critical that we elect a sheriff who understands that all of the men in his custody will one day be returning to our community and that it is the sheriff’s job to make sure they return as better men.
As the man who has actually run the jail for many years now, Pat has demonstrated an ability to be a progressive thinker who is fair to the men in his custody and tough when he needs to be. He has been accommodating to the families of inmates and lawyers without jeopardizing security. I enthusiastically support his candidacy.
David P. Hoose
Northampton