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Over 200 offenders to be set free due to jail overcrowding
Sixty-eight percent of the inmates scheduled for sentence reductions due to an overcrowding emergency at the Oakland County Jail had been convicted of misdemeanor offenses, while the remaining 32 percent were convicted of felonies. Nearly 230 inmates are slated for early releases. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)
Over 200 inmates at the Oakland County Jail have received sentence reductions after a jail overcrowding emergency forced county officials to reduce the inmates’ sentences, the second time in five months such an emergency prompted the early release of jail inmates.
According to Oakland County Circuit Court Administrator Kevin Oeffner, the formal jail overcrowding emergency was declared on Aug. 8. After that, Chief Circuit Court Judge Nancy J. Grant put together a list of 228 inmates who did not pose a high threat risk to the public and who would be eligible for sentence reductions of between 40 and 45 percent.
Of those inmates, 115 (68 percent) had been convicted of misdemeanor offenses, while 73 (32 percent) had been convicted of felony offenses, Oeffner said. Under state law, the jail has to be brought to 25 inmates below its maximum inmate capacity of 1,520 inmates following a jail overcrowding emergency declaration.
Just shy of half of those 228 inmates’ sentences were reduced by a high enough percentage on Wednesday, Aug. 22 that their release was immediate. It was unclear how long it would take to get the remaining 115 of the inmates released from the Oakland County Jail.
Under state law, a formal jail overcrowding emergency is declared when the jail’s inmate population exceeds capacity for seven consecutive days. Within two weeks of such an emergency being declared, the county is required to do whatever it can within legal means to reduce the jail population to below its maximum capacity.
Until March, the county had for several years kept the jail’s inmate population under its maximum capacity following a spate of nine jail overcrowding emergencies between 2005 and 2007. Thousands of non-violent inmates lodged at the Oakland County Jail had their sentences reduced because of such emergencies during that time period.
Oeffner said a number of factors could have contributed to the second jail overcrowding emergency this year, including a budget cut of over $16 million that prompted a work release program that averaged about 150 participating inmates to be reconfigured into a virtual work release program.
The jail overcrowding emergency in March prompted the early release of 227 inmates who did not pose a high risk to the public.
13 Responses to Over 200 offenders to be set free due to jail overcrowding
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sheila
August 30, 2012 at 8:07 am
Thats just B.S.!! pitch a tent, let them live in a tent for the rest of their sentence-not let them out to live amungst us law abidding, tax paying, hard working people! Once they are out, they know they can do what they want and NOT GO TO JAIL knowing their is no room for them!!! B.S!!!!! The milford police had a guy and let him go saying oakland county does not want him, the night he was let go, he attacked me and my boyfriend!! I had to call 911!! this guy is dangerous and the police just let him go, they even gave him back his kniff which he used to cut our gas line latter that knight. I do not want people who belong in prison to be let out before their time, its scary!!
Your English Teacher
August 30, 2012 at 11:22 am
latter = later
knight = night
kniff = knife
teacher 2
August 30, 2012 at 8:20 pm
touche!! learn how to spell…and there are 2 sides to every story. lol
One Life
September 1, 2012 at 9:54 am
Well done!
teacher 2
August 30, 2012 at 8:24 pm
many non violent people just like YOU are in jail ….. beware sista —- you could be next! Its not about the crime – they just want your money!
t
August 30, 2012 at 3:39 pm
I agree that is bullshit.
AJ
August 31, 2012 at 11:25 am
I’m guessing that most of the inmates they are releasing were probably convicted of using drugs and so should never have been put into jail to begin with. Jail doesn’t help with drug addictions – only proper rehabilitation and medical treatment does!
And I have not doubt that if it weren’t for the failed “war on drugs” then we’d have plenty of room in our prisons for actual criminals like pedophiles, rapists, murderers, etc.
AJ
August 31, 2012 at 11:26 am
*no doubt
One Life
September 1, 2012 at 9:53 am
Very true. But, many people don’t take into account “facts.” Instead, they would rather “throw stones.” The War on Drugs is a total failure as detailed in over 1000 national research reports. America incarcerates more people than all other countries in the world COMBINED. It causes 7 in 10 families to have a loved one incarcerated, and financially ruined, for non-violent drug crimes. If drug use was decriminalized, there would be no drug gangs, no drug war, no DEATHS, and no incarceration. Imagine that.
Curious Minds
August 31, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Why not re-open the Trustee Camp? Soon Oakland County will be able to rent jail beds from the new Wayne County Jail! Bet that NEVER happens!
One Life
September 1, 2012 at 10:02 am
We must elect a new Sheriff….that being, Jane Boudreau. Mike Bouchard recently used his helicopter to nose-dive a peaceful crowd in response to an alleged fight, which put children in the hospital and damaged several classic cars and hurt other people on the ground. Other arrests were made over the Dream Cruise weekend typically – in person – after positively identifying the suspects, but b/c this alleged fight was in Pontiac, Bouchard nose-dived his helicopter for the publicity. No arrests were made —- to prove this point. Bouchard does not WANT the job of Sheriff…as is well known by continuously running for political office spots. WE EMPLOY THE SHERIFF. Is this what you would want from YOUR employee? If this is how everyone wants their precious TAX DOLLARS to be spent…please move out of Oakland County!
crazy townie
September 2, 2012 at 4:13 pm
You are correct, the Sheriff needs to go; he clearly seeks higher office but will never make Governor.
Yoda
September 1, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Maybe we can use the released prisoners to take care of the mute swan problem.