Deseret News | Crowded jail forces release of prisoners

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Crowded jail forces release of prisoners

Commoner | 1:47 a.m. July 30, 2008

Simple solution: stop accepting inmates from the city justice courts since they are only in business to make money for the cities by committing people to the county jail when they won't pay the city their fines as a way to make sure they get paid. So the cities get rich while the county pays the tab.

If the cities want to be in law enforcement to make a buck, make them have their own jails.

Jail Only for the Dangerous | 3:43 a.m. July 30, 2008

Many "crimes" need to be decriminalized.

Non-violent law breakers should be made to work and pay back victims rather than being a tax burden.

Conejo | 4:59 a.m. July 30, 2008

My bet is that at some point the "Master plan" includes opening more jail space anyway. The population in the Salt Lake valley has been increasing, inevitably that means the number of criminals will too.

Comments continue below

CITIZEN | 5:22 a.m. July 30, 2008

How about a tent city like they have in Arizona??winter time excluded,naturally.

Bob G | 5:39 a.m. July 30, 2008

If we had some inexpensive fenced detention compounds where the minor criminals like illegal aliens could be stored then the jails wouldn't be so crowded. A fenced compound with quanset huts one enterance with guard patrols should work very well. Then the Fed's could do their part in deportations as well. We have to end the catch and release jail system where those released are free to disappear and start victimizing others. We don't need elaborate detention camps with air conditioned buildings or fancy foods, just temporary housing for criminals awaiting trial. Every time they release a prisoner they are subverting and discrediting the justice system, the victims, and the actions of law enforcement. They are acting as judge, jury, and legal council for criminals and giving justice a black eye and a slap in the face. Build some camps and house these guys that are mostly illegal foreign nationals commiting robbery and thefts. We want nothing less from the jails and to keep them there.

wORKING | 6:37 a.m. July 30, 2008

ON A CHAIN GANG ..A CHAIN GANG..LIKE PHOENIX!!

A Fact | 6:42 a.m. July 30, 2008

Take a look online at the jail's roster (www.slsheriff.org). You can't help but notice how many hispanics are in our jail system. This type of crowding is just one more effect that illegal immigration is having on us citizens. Point the finger at people like Gov. Huntsman that are spineless and don't want to do anything about one of the biggest epidemics of our time. Why do Utahns not see what's going on? Take off the blinders folks, this is real! If these illegals just came to "work" why are so many in jail?

Dragon | 6:52 a.m. July 30, 2008

Hey Fact...They are just taking up beds that Americans don't want to occupy:) I agree, time to slam the border doors...

More, More, More | 6:55 a.m. July 30, 2008

More roads. More housing. More schools. More health care. More police. More government subsidies. and now more jail space. More illegals please!!! Let's just keep 'em coming until our hearts are filled to the top with compassion here in the land of Zion.

Another Fact | 7:15 a.m. July 30, 2008

It's true that many illegals (not all) come here to commit crimes. It's true that we need a stronger border and more and quicker processing to admit those who want to come here solely to work.

But that's a federal issue. There's very little any state can do to address this problem. Our weak Congress has spent more time running bogus investigations of the Bush Administration than in addressing the real problems of the country.

The Bush Administration deserves plenty of blame for this problem as well.

Simple solution | 7:24 a.m. July 30, 2008

Deport, Deport, Deport. Oh and close the borders!

M | 7:36 a.m. July 30, 2008

put them in tents like the warden in airzona. The money for jails needs to go to the military

SLC gal | 7:42 a.m. July 30, 2008

Many of the recent shootings in Glendale have been commited by criminals with a prev. history of being deported.

Yes "Simple" - Deportation has worked really well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Build more Jails | 8:17 a.m. July 30, 2008

Our population is increasing at very high rates in the past few years. We need to build more Jails, pure and simple. BUILD BUILD BUILD!!!!

Oh, and I agree with deporting as well for those illegally here.

concerned | 9:07 a.m. July 30, 2008

It is very disturbing to realize that while the County Mayor, County Council and press have been devoting so much time to soccer stadiums and Broadway style theaters, that criminals are being turned down at the jail and are back on the street. With regard to the comments from Commoner, the cities do assess a $32 fee on citiations that goes to the County for the operation of the jail. The operation of the jail is the responsibility of the County Sheriff and it is obvious that the County Mayor and Council have not thought the issue important enough to address. Their solution has been alternative booking centers where there is no follow up. Would we not be better served that persons who are convicted of crimes must pay some price for their actions as opposed to the "catch and release" policy that has been forced on the Sheriff. Perhaps the "Obama" treatment of the County Mayor and Council by the press has also contributed to the problem. Thank you to this reporter for bringing this issue to the attention of the public.

suzyk | 9:33 a.m. July 30, 2008

It seems to me it's time for Utah to open a tent jail like Sheriff Joe Arpaio has in Phoenix. He is making it so tough for them, no coffee, no porno, tv, pink clothes, etc. that when they get out, they don't want to come back. That's the idea. These jails coddle the prisoners and some are more comfortable and are fed like kings. In Arizona they are not treated special and because of the illegal problem we have thousands and thousands, I think 18,000 prisoners are under the tent. It's hot but oh well, you can choose the crime but not the consequences. We need more Sheriff Joe Arpaios around the world.

Dr Don | 9:33 a.m. July 30, 2008

To those who advocate opening a detention camp, there is an empty jail already in place. Opening it up would be much cheaper and faster than building a new facility of some sort.

Debra | 9:40 a.m. July 30, 2008

We should use our best natural deterrent to let convicts know that there will be a price to pay .. you don't need to build more prisons or have tented villages .. the threat of life in Provo, without parole, should do the trick .. simple .. commit a crime, get sent to live in Provo .. no one in their right mind would commit a crime with that threat hanging over there head

Give us the stats | 9:52 a.m. July 30, 2008

It would have been interesting to know from Chief Cook how much jail space is being taken up by Mexican nationals. Just another example of the serious hidden costs associated with illegal immigration. Oh well, as long as the members of the Chamber of Commerce are happy...

suzyk | 10:13 a.m. July 30, 2008

I have to correct some figures, there are 10,000 in our Tent City in Arizona and they get limited tv, just not cable. Their meals cost 1.35 and don't taste real great but Sheriff Joe feels the tax payers should not be paying to make these criminals comfortable. They even have pink handcuffs. It certainly is a wakeup call to many and hopefully more will catch on that jail is not a place you want to be in Arizona. Hooray for Sheriff Joe, hope he lives to 100. Don't know what we would do without him. He's a jewel and an honest and law-abiding Sheriff. They don't come any better.

Don't kid yourself | 11:59 a.m. July 30, 2008

Your Mama, Obama, will open the boarders wide then He'll tighten up gun control to the point that the only people with guns will be the criminals, thus making prison the only safe place to be. So good people will commit crimes just to be in a safe from gun slinging illegals.

Anonymous | 12:16 p.m. July 30, 2008

More places to put criminals is only a very short term fix. It's time to get criminals to understand that they do not want to commit crimes or they will pay dearly not just sit in jail and hope it gets full. none of this repeat offenders crap. I'm talking about 6 dui's we should make you no longer capable of driving. multiple drug convictions maby time for an od. That seems to be the way they want to go out. Sounds harsh but how long will they and us beat our heads against a wall instead of just walking around it?

re: suzyk | 12:22 p.m. July 30, 2008

Sheriff Joe in Arizona is a leader. Our sheriff and publicly elected officials are all followers. They are afraid to be tough and go out on their own. They're like a gang, only tough when they are all together and get each other's backs. When alone they are weak! Sheriff Joe should come to Utah and give a lesson or two to every one of our elected officials!!!

Let them all go | 1:22 p.m. July 30, 2008

Have you ever seen the movie "Running man"? That seems like a fun solution. If Arnold doesn't ruin the fun for everyone.

proud to be an American | 1:35 p.m. July 30, 2008

America throws people into the slammer at the rate of 5 times more than the average.

Makes ya proud to be an American - don't it?

Sheriff Joe | 1:44 p.m. July 30, 2008

If we can't have Sheriff Joe Arpaio then we need to give our prisons to the Marines. They will take good care of our inmates. Letting inmates go because of overcrowding is a crime.

Dave | 3:22 p.m. July 30, 2008

Hey, concerned -- I'm pretty sure that Mayor Corroon proposed money for the Oxbow jail in his last budget, but the County Council turned him down. The Mayor seems to have always had his priorities in place. Dave

population explosion | 4:45 p.m. July 30, 2008

When that left-turn that took so agonizingly long to make last year takes even longer today, and that humungous graduating class this year will be even bigger next year, it's no surprise that the slammer too is overcrowded.

RL | 7:35 p.m. July 30, 2008

Jail Only For The Dangerous... that's a great idea.

re: RL | 8:54 p.m. July 30, 2008

"Jail Only For The Dangerous... that's a great idea."

Are you serious? That means that people can rob you and drunk drivers will get off the hook because they aren't inately dangerous. The Marines have a great idea, "Kill 'em all, let God sort them out". Shootings will go up if we only Jail the dangerous, because some stupid person will beak into my house and I WILL shoot them.

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Reader comments Crowded jail forces release of prisoners

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Crowded jail forces release of prisoners