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| Stricter parole policies caused record number of state inmates in county jails |
| By thecabin.net - Rob Moritz |
| Published: 10/28/2013 |
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New policies approved this summer to improve the disciplining and monitoring of parolees accused of new crimes led to a record number of state prisoners backed up in county jails, state prison officials told legislators Friday. Department of Correction spokeswoman Shea Wilson told the Legislative Council that 2,144 state prisoners were in county jails Friday afternoon waiting for beds to open up in the state prison system. Prison officials said the department is ready to open 446 new beds when $8 million in funding is available, and said the old department diagnostic unit in Pine Bluff could be refurbished to house 550 inmates at a cost of at least $16 million. “We have had tremendous growth,” said Sheila Sharp, director of the state Department of Community Corrections, attributing the increase to recent policy changes, including putting parole and probation violators behind bars pending revocation hearings. Sharp said 20 new parole officers are to begin a six-week training class next week. The addition of those officers will help reduce the work load significantly, she said. Currently each officer works with an average about 118 parolees or probationers, while the recommended number is about 60, she said. Read More. |
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