Downtown Growing: Duval Jail population is up despite fewer arrests

[thelakelander]

The Shipyards may have went belly up and the economy is in the dumps but riverfront living in downtown is increasing in popularity these days.

In Duval County, arrests are down, but the jail population is up.

Official explanations for that paradox range from too much bail to too few plea bargains, but the bottom line is the jail population is 24 percent over its rated capacity and growing.

And people are staying in the jail an average of 17 days longer before their cases get resolved than they were a year ago.

Last month, Chief Circuit Judge Donald Moran wrote to the sheriff and state attorney, asking for solutions. He later told the Times-Union he fears they are leading up to asking for a new jail.

“This city is not in a position, financially, to plan for a new jail,” Moran wrote. “Furthermore, I’m not sure a new jail is needed if better management techniques were implemented.”

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-15/story/duval_jail_population_is_up_despite_fewer_arrests

[sandyshoes]

In Duval County, arrests are down, but the jail population is up.“

...my first thought was, "how, are they breeding in there?"

[hillary supporter]

Just a bummer. with a snicker. Just recently with artist access to empty downtown lofts and an encouraging vibracy in urban nightspots, an increase in downtown residency would be great, but not like this.
Truly 2 steps forward, 3 steps back.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Well they wanted more resident downtown.