Lack of beds means jail must let accused criminals go free
People charged with crimes who would otherwise remain in jail awaiting trial are being released due to a lack of jail beds. By Andrew SegalEUGENE, Ore. - Suspects charged with violent crimes, repeat offenders who skip their court hearings, even convicted felons: They're all being released back into the community because Lane County has a shortage of jail beds. "Burglars get released, low level assault cases are subject to release," said Deputy District Attorney Alex Gardner. "And if this went where the county's current funding level supports, people with rape and armed assault would be released." Gardner said few inmates spend much time in the Lane County Jail. Because of consistent budget cuts, the jail is down to just 93 available beds. "When you have, say, a tenth or a twentieth of the capacity you need, it means almost everyone gets out of jail," Gardner said. That includes people like Zachary Eads. He was in custody last Thursday but was released due to overcrowding. Friday, he was arrested again; police say he was slashing tires on cars near the U of O campus. On Tuesday, he was released again. "People like that are essentially always released," Gardner said. "Even if he had stolen the cars, he would be released again and again and again." Or how about Justin Arbogast. He was charged Monday with theft, eluding police and meth possession. By Tuesday, he was free. Brooke Marshall makes those release decisions. She uses a computer program to determine which accused criminals are highest risk. The goal is to keep those people locked up before trial. But with the bed shortage, it's not always possible. "It makes it really difficult when you're put in a situation like this," she said. "Where you're choosing people you wouldn't choose (to release), but you're forced to choose to release." That worries Gardner, the district attorney-elect. He doesn't think it's safe to live here. "We're releasing people who have 45 or 50 priors," he said. "It's appalling." In addition to those released before trial, plenty of convicted criminals are also let out because there's not space to keep them. Gardner said that in one case, a woman served just 23 hours of a 180-day sentence before being freed. |
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