New law to help overcrowding in jails - WSBT-TV

South Bend, Ind. — A new law will soon give judges the choice on where low level offenders can go to serve time and receive treatment.

This law is also designed to reduce overcrowding in county jails.

Currently St. Joseph County has just over 700 inmates.

Their comfort level is right around 725.

Taking a few people from there and sending them to state facilities gives them more breathing room.

Being behind bars is about more than just serving time.

It's also about reform.

However, Troy Warner with St. Joseph County Police knows state facilities can offer more.

“Our facilities are smaller, and we're not designed long-term. We don't have as many recreational programs and things like that, that some of the state facilities have,” said Troy Warner, St Joseph County Police PIO.

The new law, which starts July 1st, will now give judges the choice where to send level 6 felons.

Typically, those are minor thefts, assault, and drug crimes.

Warner says those are the most common charges they see, with 57 of their 700 inmates serving time for it.

“It's not a huge reduction but every little bit helps when you're trying to space people out, calm people down. The more people we put in a bunk room the higher tentions are,” said Warner.

Seeing their jail population back up to pre-covid numbers, even before the usual summer spike, Warner welcomes the possible support.

Co-authoring the law, State Representative Jim Pressel says it will also make it safer for everyone inside.

“If we could reduce that population in our local jails it makes it safe for law-enforcement and it makes it safer for inmates that are in there also. And they do get better services because there's fewer people and you get more attention out of it,” said Pressel.

Pressel says most county jails are near or at capacity limits.

Under the law, judges will have the discretion to send felons to where they believe will provide the best treatment opportunities for mental health or addiction.

“Not all judges are going to send you to DOC. It depends on what the offense was, the degree of help that you need,” said Pressel.

Giving the inmates access to therapy for issues that landed them there in the first place, they hope will prevent them from coming back.

“We want you to come back into society, we want you to get the help that you need so that you don't go down this path again,” said Pressel.

This law will only effect those who commit a crime after July 1st.

Anyone currently serving right now would not be able to move unless they commit another crime.

source: https://wsbt.com/news/local/new-law-to-help-overcrowding-in-jails

Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.