County jail sends nearly 70 inmates home for the holidays
EUGENE, Ore. -- The Lane County Jail released 68 inmates between Monday Dec. 17 and Sunday Dec. 23 because of a lack of funded cell space, the sheriff's office said.
Of the inmates released from the Lane County adult correctional facility, 22 were sentenced and serving out time for crimes ranging from theft, assault and possession of narcotics charges to unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful manufacturing of a credit card.
The other 46 inmates were defendants awaiting trial for sentencing on charges including harassment, identity theft, encouraging child sex abuse, strangulation, robbery and DUII.
Officials said that they left out some of the charges for the released pre-trial inmates.
The sheriff's office said that it is their mission to conserve peace. Officials said that they hope releasing this information will keep the public informed of potential safety issues.
No new taxes until there is a county charter in place requiring "X" amount or percentage to be dedicated and separate from the general fund. Only then can we truly hold the county and sheriff accountable for expenses. Even with an outside audit I feel it is too easy for the county to play the shell game with finances given the way budgets are dictated and ran.
It might be time to make the city pay they have more criminals
 @Pit Bull I've been saying for years that Eugene needs to stop being lazy and build their own jail to house lower level offenders. Even upper level offenders can be held in a lower jail on lesser charges. How many Springfield inmates have committed higher level offenses (assaulting an officer) but are not charged so they can actually spend quality time behind bars. Eugene is suffering from the old adage "you get what you pay for." Deal with your own crime issue and stop relying on the county to take care of it for you.
lol lane county coke patrol
why even have a sheriffs patrol! armed citizens take over the duties of protecting your property and loved ones from the criminals! we already have state and local police.
just a total joke,why not cut the bloated wages of the higher level administration.its the oldest trick in the book if you don't give us more money we will send home prisoners and close down schools. I hope the crooks stop at their house first.Â
The local politicians are punishing us for not approving their tax request. Our only choice is to vote them out of office for being so inaffective in their choices. A real politician would of taken a better approach.
And on the way home from jail, no doubt, some of them stopped off and shopped at some of the nicer homes along the route. Â Last week at least one of them dropped by a bank and stuck it up. Â I am beginning to wonder why we are paying any taxes at all. Â The only thing we get from local law enforcement is traffic tickets (which generate revenue), and from the feds - harassment at the airports when the old folks and little children try to fly home for Christmas. Â Fennforests, I'm starting to agree with you.
They should all be fired for being incompetent.