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| Indiana Jail Releases Raise Concern After Murder |
| By Indianapolis Star |
| Published: 08/26/2002 |
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A drug dealer released from the overcrowded Marion County Jail is back behind bars, accused of murder. It is the second time in 10 months that an inmate released to ease crowding has gone on to face a murder charge. Critics say the cases show that the release of inmates threatens public safety. But the judge who signed both release orders says he had no choice if the county is to comply with a federal order limiting the inmate population at the county's three detention facilities. 'I have never said we are letting out people who are acceptable risks,' Judge William Young said. 'We're just doing the best we can with the people we have to deal with.' Since September, Young and other local judges have freed about 3,000 inmates in order to avoid violating the jail population cap. In April, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker found the county in contempt for violating the 297-inmate cap at the lockup, the area in the City-County Building where the newly arrested are held until they have an initial court hearing. On July 25, 95 high-risk inmates were freed, the majority of whom he described last week as addicts and dealers 'who hurt themselves.' Other judges say the county ought to suffer the fines rather than put the public at risk. |
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