FAYETTE JAIL POPULATION DIPS BELOW CAPACITY

An increase in the number of Fayette County criminals seeking drug and
alcohol treatment has resulted in a drop in prison population recently,
according to a county official.

Sheriff Gary Brownfield said jail population as of Wednesday stood at 153 -
almost 30 prisoners fewer than the 19th-century building's capacity of 182.

There also were 23 Fayette prisoners in Westmoreland County Prison
yesterday, at a per diem rate of $35 each. But Brownfield, chairman of the
county Prison Board, said many may be returned soon because of the prison's
recent vacancies.

In 2001, jail population routinely has exceeded the capacity of 182. To
alleviate the overcrowding, more than 50 inmates were transferred to
prisons in three other counties.

But renting cells frequently costs the county more than $50,000 a month.
The rentals exceeded the amount budgeted for the year in less than three
months and threatened to blow a $500,000 hole in the county budget.

District Attorney Nancy Vernon said the ebb in prison population was
because of a program instituted earlier this year that allows offenders
with drug and alcohol problems to undergo in-patient treatment in lieu of
incarceration.

"That's what I attribute the decrease to," Vernon said.

Dave McAdoo, executive director of the Fayette County Drug and Alcohol
Commission, said at least 14 potential prisoners have been diverted from
jail cells toward treatment in the last five months.

"These are all people who would have been in the Fayette County Prison," he
said.

McAdoo said more people have used the program, but are accounted through a
different office. A full accounting of how many people were diverted from
prison through the treatment program is due next month, McAdoo said.

According to Vernon, drunken-driving offenders and others with drug and
alcohol problems that may have been at the root of their offenses are able
to obtain treatment at a reduced cost or for free, thanks to a state grant.

Vernon said alleged offenders who have no health insurance are able to
attend approved in-patient treatment programs at no cost.

In addition to the advantage of reducing the jail population, Vernon said
the rehabilitation may serve to keep people from returning.

"The rehabilitation may be better, because it will take place closer in
time to the offense," she said.

Previously, many drunken-driving and drug offenders were offered house
arrest instead of incarceration.

Vernon said house arrest has not proven to be a successful rehabilitation tool.