Pubdate: Tue, 24 Apr 2007
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2007 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595

  BANNOCK COUNTY LATEST TO DEAL WITH JAIL OVERCROWDING

POCATELLO, Idaho - Bannock County's jail is the latest local lockup 
considering ways to address overcrowding.

Currently, the jail in Pocatello has 295 inmates in a facility built 
to sleep 264.

Sheriff Lorin Nielsen says "We do have people sleeping on the floor."

Nielsen could consider sentencing alternatives for offenders charged 
with relatively minor crimes.

Bannock County isn't alone in Idaho as it struggles to make space for 
prisoners.

State Department of Correction officials have sent more than 400 
inmates to Minnesota and Texas to relieve overcrowding.

In addition, Kootenai, Jerome, Canyon and other counties have been 
wrestling with an influx of inmates that exceed their often-aging 
jails' capacities _ especially as more and more people are arrested 
on drug-related charges.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine