Let’S Keep Jail Use Statements In Proper Context

I am a retired police chief and have been a volunteer member of the Kootenai County Criminal Justice Citizens Advisory Committee since it was formed over two years ago. During that time I have spent several hundred hours researching issues pertaining to jail overcrowding.

A recent article used some figures from a 1998 National Institute of Corrections report and has been cited by opponents of a new jail to bolster their case that jail overcrowding is at least partly due to incarcerating individuals who should not be there. I did the research and compiled the information which was then incorporated in the NIC Report.

Unfortunately, information I developed from my research has been taken out of context or misrepresented by opponents of an expanded jail. I would like to address some of these myths.

Misinformation: 71 percent of the inmates are there for misdemeanors.

Facts: 71 percent of the total charges against inmates are misdemeanors. However, the vast majority of inmates have multiple charges. In fact, on a typical day, 64 percent of all inmates had one or more felony charges and 6 percent had multiple misdemeanor charges (excluding traffic offenses).

Inmates were charged with the following crimes (most serious charge only): homicide, 4; kidnapping, 1; rape, 2; sex offense (forcible fondling), 6; robbery, 2; stalking, 1; domestic violence, 2; battery/aggravated battery, 5; assault/aggravated assault, 16; malicious injury, 3; child abuse/neglect, 2; arson, 1; burglary/trespassing/unlawful entry, 10; weapons offenses, 2; resisting/interfering with police/obstructing/escape, 5; forgery 3; and theft/grand theft, 17.

Myth: Most inmates are in jail for traffic offenses.

Fact: Only 15 percent of the inmates on a typical day had only traffic charges. Many inmates with felony and misdemeanor criminal charges also had traffic-related offenses.

Myth: Most inmates in jail are there for drug offenses.

Fact: On a typical day only 9 percent of inmates had only drug-related charges (of those, 81 percent had one or more felonies). Of all inmates, 27 percent had drug-related offenses. However, 58 percent also had other criminal charges (of which 67 percent were felonies).

Misinformation: We need more programs, organizations or services designed to keep people out of jail or from reoffending.

Fact: The 1998 North Idaho Community Resource Directory has 329 nonprofit and government listings that cover a broad range of services. Overcrowding at the jail has hampered those services, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, chaplain’s program, Narcotics Anonymous and GED program, which are designed to reduce recidivism. The proposed expanded jail will provide more room to accommodate such programs.

Misinformation: Judges don’t have enough options, other than jail.

Fact: Judges can sentence people to jail, including work release, and/or impose fines. In lieu of jail they can utilize the sheriff’s labor program or place offenders on probation, which may include electronic home monitoring. They can impose community service (in lieu of fines) and mandate alcohol, drug and/or domestic violence counseling. For driving under the influence violations, they can mandate an ignition interlock device for the offender’s vehicle.

Myth: Most inmates have never been arrested before.

Fact: On a typical day, almost 85 percent of the inmates had prior arrests, averaging nine arrests per repeat offender (each arrest could be multiple charges). In fact, 21 percent of the inmates were even in jail for new offenses committed while they were on probation for prior convictions.

Why is the jail overcrowded? In 1970, Kootenai County had 35,332 residents. In 1990, the population had increased to 69,795. The current figure is in excess of 100,000. The average projected population in 2015 is 160,893. While the jail population, like the county population, has increased significantly, Kootenai County incarcerates fewer people in relation to total population than the national or Idaho state average.