FALL RIVER — Native legal professional Nick Bernier is throwing his hat within the ring to problem 24-year veteran Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson within the run-up to subsequent 12 months’s election.
Bernier, 36, a Democrat mentioned it was time for a change within the Bristol County Sheriff’s division after greater than 20 years of Hodgson, a Republican, on the helm.
“I feel I could make a change. I strongly disagree with the sheriff’s insurance policies,” mentioned Bernier. “I feel politics has played too much of a role, when it actually needs to be concerning the care and custody of the prisoners and ensuring that when folks go there, they get out, they usually get out safely and hopefully they get an opportunity to rehabilitate. We don’t profit with this revolving door. Nobody advantages from the charges of recidivism we’ve on this county.”
Bernier mentioned he is involved concerning the charges of suicide on the Bristol County Home of Corrections, together with the ladies’s facility and the Ash Road facility.
“That must be checked out fastidiously,” mentioned Bernier. “There may be additionally the problem of pressured time beyond regulation. Frankly, you’ve guards which can be overworked. And after 24 years, I feel issues have turn into prime heavy, and we actually want to focus on hiring and retaining guards.”
Drug rehabilitation key to combating recidivism
If elected, Bernier mentioned considered one of his points he’ll concentrate on is drug rehabilitation providers for the prisoners. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 85% of the jail inhabitants has an lively substance use dysfunction or had been incarcerated for against the law involving medication or drug use. As nicely, inmates with opioid use dysfunction are at the next threat for overdose following launch from incarceration.
“So, my thought course of being, if as sheriff you’ll be able to assist to offer these folks an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, give them an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and hopefully we’ll by no means see them once more.”
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Nick Bernier a well-recognized face in Fall River
Bernier served as an assistant district legal professional as a prison prosecutor underneath former Bristol County District Legal professional Sam Sutter, later working as a tax legal professional for in personal regulation corporations till just lately opening the regulation agency, Rampart Legislation Group, in Fall River.
A former principal in convicted Jasiel Correia II’s now-defunct company SnoOwl, Bernier made headlines final Could as a star witness for federal prosecutors within the former Fall River mayor’s fraud and extortion trial.
Bernier mentioned he’s at all times been desirous about public service.
In 2012, Bernier, at age 27, misplaced a close election for Governor’s Council — a recount confirmed he misplaced by 19 votes.
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Hodgson will run once more
Hodgson, 67, has been an outspoken supporter of former Republican President Donald Trump and his insurance policies on unlawful immigration, even providing Bristol County inmates to assist construct his border wall in Mexico.
A lightning rod for controversy, Hodgson even made a visit to the Mexican border this previous spring.
Hodgson, who ran unopposed within the 2016 Bristol County Sheriff’s election, mentioned that he welcomes a challenger within the upcoming 2022 race and that he’s at all times felt competitors was good.
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“Notably now it is vital to have competitors. It provides the voters the chance to essentially examine my file, what we’ve completed and the place we stand on public security in relation to the opponent’s place which may be totally different. Greater than ever now, it is vital for voters to learn.”
Whereas Hodgson hasn’t made a proper announcement of his bid for a fifth six-year time period, he’s anticipated to after the vacations.
In accordance with a report filed by Hodgson’s marketing campaign to the Workplace of Marketing campaign and Finance, he raised over $20,000 within the month of October.
Hodgson was appointed sheriff of Bristol County by former Gov. William F. Weld in Could 1997 and voters elected him the place the next 12 months.
Jo C. Goode could also be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Assist native journalism and subscribe to The Herald Information at the moment!
