Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Bardwell
Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Bardwell
As many communities across the country seek to limit jail populations in response to COVID-19 concerns, the Scott County Jail has already released approximately 50 inmates to limit overcrowding.
A variety of criteria were considered in deciding which inmates to release, including age, medical conditions and time left to serve.
The jail began the year with a record 391 inmates, said Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane. In addition to the recent release of prisoners, another 100 inmates had previously been processed out of the jail. Some went on to state prison, while others went into probation or were sent to facilities where they could receive help.
The current population in the Scott County Jail is now 240, and Lane said he doesn’t expect any additional releases.
Lane also said local law enforcement are issuing citations for low-risk misdemeanor charges, rather than jailing those offenders. That practice predates the coronavirus concerns.
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