245 Michigan inmates were released from the Oakland County jail yesterday, after Chief Circuit Judge Wendy Potts ordered emergency releases and sentence reductions. According to reports, the Oakland County jail was suffering from what officials have called a chronic overcrowding.

Potts maintained that only inmates with misdemeanor offenses were released, while those incarcerated for assault and drunk driving were not eligible for early release. Potts also said that each inmate was reviewed before release – officers reviewed everything from criminal history, outstanding warrants and parole violations for each prisoner.

While a number of jails in Michigan have been releasing prisoners early, officials maintain that Michigan law says inmates can only receive sentence reductions if they will not become a high risk to public safety.