Leon County commissioners hope they won’t need to expand the jail for at least 25 more years. They approved a plan Tuesday they hope will help with that.
The county has programs to manage its jail population, such as electronic monitoring, alcohol and drug testing, and diversionary programs. The goal is to divert people from incarceration when it’s safe to do so – partly to lessen the need for more bed space.
Public Defender Jessica Yeary says another way commissioners could keep the jail population down is by working to address the community’s mental health needs outside of the criminal justice system.
“Yes, we can stop arresting mentally ill people and putting them in jail," Yeary said. "We can divert them to the mental health facilities. We can give them the resources they need outside of the Leon County Detention Center.”
The report also recommends streamlining the process between the first court appearance and final disposition in an effort to reduce an inmate’s average length of stay.
Inmates with mental health issues make up roughly 35 to 40 percent of the facility’s population. The average length of stay for inmates with mental health issues is generally 75 percent higher than for all inmates. Part of the newly approved plan includes streamlining the process to help move inmates through the system more quickly.
The county hopes by managing the size of its inmate population, the jail won’t need to expand for at least the next 25 years.
