The Denver, Col., Sheriff's Department has made an emergency space-finding mission its number one priority due to jail overcrowding. Today, 64 inmates will be moved from the Smith Road facility to a tent jail in an attempt to make more room in state jails. 

According to recent reports, state jails are running 53% above capacity, and the sheriff department notes that longer inmate sentences have added to the problem. The sheriff department added that even an extra day added onto an average sentence can lead to an extra 123 occupied beds in the facility.  

While a new 1,500-bed city jail is being constructed downtown, officials report that it will not be finished until 2009. Meanwhile, the tent that will now house some of the inmate overflow is 2,400-square feet, and officials believe that it will help to ease overcrowding.