Jail inmates released due to crowding

Hundreds of Placer County inmates are released early each year and jail overcrowding and funding issues could be to blame.Between April 1 and April 4, 17 inmates were released from the Placer County Jail in response to a federal-court ordered overcrowding release order."We are federally mandated to release when we reach 90 percent capacity," said Capt. John Fitzgerald, of the sheriff's department. "The sheriff is authorized to start releasing inmates to avoid reaching 100 percent capacity."If the jail were to reach its full capacity of 540 inmates, the sheriff would have to refuse to accept additional inmates into the facility."We don't want to get into that position," Fitzgerald said. "Therefore, we release inmates to try to stay within the 90 to 95 percent area. If we suddenly have a lot of real bad guys we want to be able to keep them."The current Richardson Drive facility at the Dewitt Center in North Auburn opened in July 1985 at a cost of $4.5 million and was originally rated by the California State Board of Corrections for 108 inmates. That total was exceeded almost immediately. By 1990 the population rose to 272 inmates, according the county's Web site.In 1990 a federal court order restricting daily population to 148 gave way to the construction of a 260-bed addition to the jail that opened in 1992 at a cost of $3.5 million. Current capacity at the jail is 540, which includes the 160-bed minimum-security barracks.A review of the Placer County Jail's bookings and releasing's reports Tuesday shows that the inmates recently released were arrested for a variety of charges, including driving under the influence, vehicle code violations, disorderly conduct and possession of a controlled substance.Fitzgerald explained that there is a policy in effect to determine which inmate gets his or her walking papers."We start with our first order of release on a scale from one to 10," he said. "For example, petty theft of something with a value less than $400 is a misdemeanor. That type of person would be the first we'd look at for releasing."The scale ranges from a level 1 - a fresh arrest for a misdemeanor - to a level 5, misdemeanor warrant arrest for assault, and level 10 - felony warrant arrest for felony property crimes except burglary.Inmates released due to overcrowding make a promise to appear in court at a given date and time.Not everyone believes criminals, regardless of how "minor" their crime is, should be released."They're criminals - period," said Carrie Sorenson, 45, of Auburn. "Why do they get out on a pass and a promise?"Officials plan to open tanks L and M of the main jail, which has a housing capacity of 106 additional inmates.An additional eight correctional officers would have to be hired, however to supervise the added inmates. "We've interviewed over 50 people for the position and are continue to interview," Fitzgerald said. "There are certain standards applicants must meet before they can be hired. We want good applicants."Officials anticipate the needed correctional officers will be hired and the two tanks operational by this summer.The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.