A crackdown on probation violators is exacerbating overcrowding at many county jails across Florida, forcing the release of some suspects who are awaiting trial.

The crunch is caused, in part, by a zero-tolerance policy that followed the August slaying of six people at a Deltona house and the February slaying of an 11-year-old Sarasota girl -- both incidents allegedly committed by felons who violated their probations yet weren't sent back to jail.

State corrections officials in August ordered probation officers to lock up violent offenders for any violation of the conditions governing their release, which could be as simple as missing an appointment.

Statistics obtained by The Associated Press showed the number of probation violations pending statewide rose 4.9 percent to 38,423, an increase of 1,818 over July. Eighteen of the state's 20 judicial circuits reported that they had more probation violations in August than July.

But the overcrowding is drawing the attention of inmate-rights groups, who say it can endanger the health and safety of not only the accused, but also their officers and other jail employees.

Advocacy groups plans to go to court later this month to argue that Brevard County has violated a federal order to reduce the population at its jail, which was built for 1,143 inmates but now holds more than 1,400 -- an 18 percent surplus.

A spot survey by The AP showed similar overcrowding in other counties: Hillsborough, 12 percent; Duval, 14 percent; Volusia, where the Deltona slayings occurred, 13 percent.

To accommodate the crunch, jails are putting up cots in hallways and day rooms, judges are lowering bond for some accused criminals so they can be released and some inmates are being freed after being equipped with satellite tracking devices.