The Green Side of Crime

Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle reports that about one-third of inmates booked into Marin County Jail came from outside the county (Marin IJ, 8/11/2013).

Housing advocates were outraged to learn of this number.  “The greenhouse gasses produced by criminals having to commute from out of county is very harmful.” says Sustainable Housing In Transit spokesperson Neva Endoubt.  “It is a product of Marin’s high cost of housing that those who commit our crimes cannot afford to live here.”

The organization encourages an increase in Marin’s affordable housing to enable other counties’ crime workers to use their cars less. 

“Placing more housing near transit centers helps reduce greenhouse gasses in many ways, and crime is just one.  If crime workers know there is an abundant supply of targets nearby, they can use transit to work, and then walk or bicycle to their victims.

“Our goal is to help Sheriff Doyle improve our jails to where all inmates both live and work in Marin.”

But the organization also has a message directly to Marin’s out-of-county crime workers:  “Until such time that we can arrange your housing, when you are stealing cars please steal a Prius so you pollute less as you drive it home.”