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Hard choices on Pinellas jail crowding

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published April 25, 2007

Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats didn't pin a star to his lapel with the intention of letting inmates out of jail. Yet he has found that to be the responsible approach to dangerous overcrowding at the county jail.

Coats was finally able to convince Pinellas-Pasco Chief Judge David Demers that the Sheriff's Office needs more authority to relieve pressure on an overburdened jail facility and staff. On Monday, the jail population was 3,573, well over the jail's intended capacity. More than 400 inmates are sleeping on the floor in overcrowded cells, increasing the chances of violence, disease and lawsuits.

Now Coats will be allowed to release some suspects at booking, but only if they are charged with minor offenses and pass a background check. His office will also be allowed to release some sentenced inmates early, but only under strict rules and if jail conditions warrant it. Coats is also planning to expand his electronic monitoring program, in which nonviolent inmates are released wearing an ankle bracelet that allows his office to follow their movements.

It took guts for Coats to push the issue to the front. He knows he will be criticized if someone released by his office commits another crime. Yet he faced up to his duty to protect the public, his employees and inmates in his care, most of whom have yet to be convicted of a crime.

"I'm already in a high-risk business," Coats said. "I'm willing to accept that responsibility considering what might happen if we don't relieve the overcrowding."

Even with his new authority, Coats will be able to address only a portion of the problem. He'll need help from the entire law enforcement and judicial community, and from county government to provide a long-term solution.

Judges will need to keep hearing dates and trials from backing up, city police will need to make fewer arrests for minor ordinance violations and the County Commission will have to push forward with jail construction. One facility that would add immediate relief is a new 400-bed medical wing, whose completion date inexplicably keeps getting delayed.

Ultimately, Pinellas taxpayers will foot the bill for more cells or unsafe jail conditions. Considering that it costs more than $80 a day to incarcerate an inmate, the alternatives Coats proposes are a deal. He deserves praise and public support for his effort.

[Last modified April 24, 2007, 21:43:15]