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| South Carolina To Address Overcrowding |
| By The Charlotte Observer |
| Published: 10/31/2005 |
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At times, recently arrested inmates just have to sleep on the floor - especially if the booking and processing areas at the York County (S.C.) Detention Center are overcrowded. Chief Jail Administrator Ralph Misle knows the problem exists. Sometimes, the inmate population can swell above its 272-inmate capacity. Even the daily average is higher than capacity -- in 2002, it was 286 inmates. One time, the center brimmed with 358 inmates, he said. Probation and parole officers conduct sweeps and bring violators back to the facility. The highway patrol cracks down on drunken drivers. The courts may not be in session for weeks, forcing the jail to continue housing inmates until they go to trial. "It's difficult to predict," Misle said about the fluctuating population. Because jail administrators don't keep track of the trend, Misle says he "can't say what tomorrow will be like." He knows what causes the problem and where it happens the most. Now, Misle's hoping the county can help alleviate the problem through a 20-year growth plan. The county's growing population stands at more than 183,000 residents. Trends show that number may grow to more than 250,000 residents by 2022. Because they are basing their plans on trend predictions, Assistant County Manager David Larson said county officials will be working in phases to address the problems at the detention center. The first phase calls for the addition of one or two housing units to the detention center within five years. It would increase space from 272 beds to more than 384. Twenty years from now, county officials hope the facility will be able to house 656 inmates. Architectural design is expected to begin next year, but construction dates remain unknown. "We need certain infrastructures in place first," Larson said. "Trying to project ahead is a little difficult, but we've looked at the inmate population and growth to determine the need for detention and prison space." In recent years, the inmate population has increased steadily, from a daily average of 211 in 1998 to an average of 286 in 2002. Misle said the jail is making the most efficient use of what it has but looks forward to the future expansion. When more than 35 inmates are in the nine booking cells, the officers use the eight infirmary holding cells to temporarily house the extra inmates. They do this until beds are available in the classification unit, where an inmates are usually processed. Once in classification, an inmate must wait for a bed to be available in the housing units, where they will stay awaiting trial if they are unable to post bond. The length of time varies. Larson said the expansion of the detention center and its prison could cost between $147 million and $166 million over the 20-year period. But that number could change. Larson said county officials have talked with officials in cities such as Rock Hill and York, S.C., to help fund the project. "It's a moving target," he said about the costs. "It's an estimate of future needs and it's something we'll continue to monitor. You've got to start somewhere." |
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