Study: Overcrowded jails costing taxpayers thousands

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- A paperwork backlog and inadequate computer software are contributing to crowding problems at the Clark County Jail that cost taxpayers thousands of dollars a day in extra costs, consultants found.\nThe 44-page draft report by Sovran Limited of Indianapolis also found that a local board working to reduce jail crowding has been plagued by poor organization and attendance problems.\nOf the 16 people listed as members of the Clark County Community Corrections Advisory Board, only seven attended at least half of the scheduled meetings over the last 15 months, the report found.\nThe consultants, who were hired by the county, studied operations at the jail. They interviewed 35 law enforcement officers, elected officials, judges, probation chiefs and jail employees. For the report, they also studied the records of 362 inmates.\nAmong other things, the report found that the county spends about $3,500 a day to house an average of 100 inmates in other counties and states.\nIn addition, it found that officials' failure to complete proper paperwork resulted in 28 of the inmates not being transferred to state prisons in a timely manner. It suggests the county create a policy on finishing paperwork and better train staff.\nThe report also found that computer software in the jail is not linked to similar software used by county courts. Networking those systems would allow judges to more efficiently handle inmates involved in more than one case, preventing multiple trips to different courts that result in longer jail stays.\nThe Community Corrections Advisory Board will discuss the report Monday.\nDan Moore, the commissioners' attorney, said the report shows that "in a county this size, our system ought to work better."\nSheriff Michael Becher said Thursday that the inmate population recently hit record levels, with 413 prisoners at one point this week. Under a legal agreement stemming from an overcrowding lawsuit, the current jail can hold no more than 238 inmates.\nWith the county's inmate population growing by about 10 people each month, a $19 million jail expansion project expected to be completed late this year or early 2006 might not offer much relief, Becher said.\nIt is expected to create enough room for 446 inmates, but future expansions could increase that number.