KEEP NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS OUT OF JAIL TO EASE OVERCROWDING

It isn't a sexy issue or one that holds much appeal to voters, but
maintaining an adequate jail is one of the most pressing issues facing
Georgia counties. Not only is it a major area of expense for a county, but
jail conditions can also be a legal liability and public safety matter.

Taxpayers increasingly find themselves footing the bill for inmate lawsuits
over inhumane jail conditions. Even more troubling, because of a lack of
jail space, some law enforcement agencies are opting not to arrest people
for certain crimes.

According to recent news reports detailing the status of jails in the
Athens area, all five counties adjacent to Clarke County are actively
pursuing plans for new jails. Clarke County isn't making preparations for a
jail expansion even though its current facility is 5 percent over capacity.

A jail is under construction in Madison County, and Oconee and Barrow
counties have already set aside tax revenue for planned jails. Oglethorpe
County has bought land in Crawford for a jail, and construction could start
by the beginning of next year. Jackson County's sheriff has implored county
commissioners for money to build a new jail. These counties are undertaking
the costly and often politically unpopular expense of jail construction out
of necessity.

Barrow County has 140 people crammed into a jail built for 90. Oconee
County lacks detention facilities for female inmates and pays a daily fee
of $70 per woman to house them elsewhere. Because Oglethorpe County doesn't
have a working jail, and the sheriff has said the county will pay more than
half a million dollars this year to house inmates in other counties in
addition to the extra costs and manpower of hauling inmates to and from court.

In Jackson and Barrow counties, sheriff's deputies don't serve warrants and
arrest wanted people unless the person is charged with a violent crime or
is likely to post bond and get out of the jail in a few hours. Jackson
County has an estimated 1,000 outstanding arrest warrants as a result of
this policy.

That known criminals are avoiding prosecution simply because a county's
jail is too overcrowded should be a wake up call to residents and
officials. First, it raises questions about the policy of detaining people
who are charged with non-violent crimes. After all, if these individuals
are already living freely, then it's hard to argue against releasing them
during and after prosecution. Punishment for non-violent crimes does not
necessarily have to be meted out behind bars. There are other ways to
penalize people for misdeeds and provide restitution. In terms of public
safety and justice, violent criminals are the ones we should focus on
incarcerating as long as overcrowding is an issue.

Second, perhaps more attention needs to be paid to regional jails and
detention centers. Just as counties have been able to collaborate on major
projects such as reservoirs and landfills, so too should they be able to
pool their resources in creating adequate detention facilities. It seems
almost all counties are facing the same problems, yet none are looking for
joint solutions. That creates significant duplication of services and costs
- -- something taxpayers and officials should be looking to avoid.