Jail program trims overcrowding

In this July 22, 2012 photo, jailer Gary Allen addresses inmates in their pods over a speaker system at the Cole County Jail.
In this July 22, 2012 photo, jailer Gary Allen addresses inmates in their pods over a speaker system at the Cole County Jail.

A pre-trial release screening and supervision program (PTS) started in 2013 is continuing to meet its goal of reducing overcrowding at the Cole County Jail.

Richard Lee, circuit court marshal for the pre-trial service, told the Cole County Commission on Tuesday as of Dec. 1, the program has reduced 21,554 bed days in the county jail. Last year, there were 23,612 bed days, 15,174 days in 2014 and 6,665 in 2013.

The program calls for each defendant who remained in jail and was unable to make bond for more than three days to be screened through the pre-trial release coordinator.

The coordinator, with assistance of court marshals, implements supervision services such as call-ins, drug testing, monitor violations and verification of residency and employment.

The cost of the program, which has three part-time employees, is $55,000-$66,000 a year. Electronic monitoring costs another $8,000.

So far this year, 33 defendants have completed the PTS program. Of those, 20 have completed or are participating in DWI court, drug court, veterans court, faith-based programs and mental health programs throughout the state.

The judges proposed the pre-trial program, and the commission gave approval after expressing concerns about a growing jail population.

Figures for 2015 show the average daily jail population at the county jail was 155.

With the reduction in population at the jail, Lee said there is more space for federal prisoners, mental health holds and prisoners from other counties.

In 2015, the jail held 403 federal prisoners with an average number of 35-40 inmates daily. That generated an income of $996,450-$1,138,800 a year for the county.

The contract with the state Mental Health department for four beds at $90 each generated a total of $131,400.

In 2015, the jail also held 414 prisoners for Boone and other counties at a rate of $50-$67 a day.

"We could also look at utilizing the unused space in the jail," Lee said. "The space could be used to provide additional release strategies for the courts for a better transition of defendants and sentenced prisoners back into the community. The PTS program staff could be tasked with exploring the possible expansion of services."

Sheriff Greg White asked commissioners to consider using $7 million in his department reserves to do improvements at the county jail.