High Crime

OVERCROWDED JAILS SIGN OF A SYSTEM IN TROUBLE

Is overcrowding at jails in West Virginia a national security
problem? Don't laugh until you've learned what happened in Kanawha
County a few days ago.

According to published reports, 13 illegal immigrants arrested by
authorities had to be released because there was no room to house
them at either of the two regional jails serving that area. A
sheriff's deputy apprehended the 13 after their van broke down. He
contacted the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which informed
him that though normal INS policy is to incarcerate illegal aliens,
no cells were available for them in the Charleston area. Names were
taken and the 13 were released. It is unlikely there were any
terrorists among the 13 people arrested in Kanawha County. They
appeared to be from Mexico, in this country to take advantage of
opportunities for seasonal farm work. Had there been reason to
suspect they had mischief on their minds, we feel confident Kanawha
County authorities would not have released them so quickly.

Still, the question of whether inability to detain illegal aliens is
a security concern is a valid one. It is something INS officials in
this state and others with overcrowded jails should investigate.
There simply must be back-up plans in place to ensure that illegal
aliens who may pose security risks are not set free after being
apprehended.

Meanwhile, West Virginia officials face the dilemma of what to do
with prisoners convicted or accused of crimes and for whom there is
no adequate space in regional jails. Overcrowding is a problem at
regional jails throughout the state. Some relief will come from three
new corrections facilities scheduled to be open by the end of next
year.

Corrections officials should be pursuing every option to deal with
jail overcrowding. Alternative sentencing, perhaps including home
confinement for non-violent offenders, is one possibility. Clearly,
work already begun on a long-term plan to deal with overcrowding
should be pressed forward with all dispatch.