Comments about ‘Crowded jail forces release of prisoners’

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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...

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.