MARION COUNTY, IN - The chief of Indiana's prison system said he is glad to offer a way for Marion County to keep its criminals locked up.

"When a community has a need, if we have a potential to bring a solution to the table, I want to do that," J. David Donahue said yesterday.

With thousands of inmates being freed early because of crowding at the local jail, Donahue has offered to house 220 Marion County inmates at a state prison in New Castle.

The idea, backed by Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, was brought before the City-County Council on Monday. It would cost the county $1.6 million.

Others say the money would be better spent on the court system, which officials agree is the root of the jail's crowding crisis. The slower the system moves, the longer people must await trial, lengthening the time they may sit in jail and increasing the chance they may be released early.

The faster the system can send those found guilty of crimes to state prison or an alternative punishment, the safer Central Indiana will be, officials say.