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Photo by Steve Johnson As part of the morning routine at the Jackson County Jail, release officer Kathy Huddleston interviews an inmate to see if he can qualify for early release. The jail releases hundreds of inmates a week because of overcrowding. Jail population cap means more repeaters Early release usually doesn't last About the jail History: The four-story, 67,000-square-foot jail was built in 1981 on a federal judge's order. A 190-inmate federal cap was later imposed. Inmates: The main jail holds people who have been arrested and are either facing trial or serving a sentence. Who gets released: Some inmates have finished their sentences, but most are released early because of overcrowding. Inmates who face trial on misdemeanor and lesser felony charges are often released before their court hearing. Other facilities: The county opened the 85-bed Talent work center in July 1998. Inmates there undergo rehabilitation treatment. Another Talent building was remodeled to house 60 inmates as they make the transition from the county corrections system to the community. By JESSICA SMITH Of the 30 to 40 men and women who walk free from the Jackson County Jail because of overcrowding nearly every day, more than half will return in a year. County officials say they've had some success at stopping the revolving door by emphasizing rehabilitation programs, but most inmates aren't at the jail long enough to take part. "It's frustrating," said Sheriff Bob Kennedy, adding that inmates have no incentive to change their behaviors. "Most of them know they're not going to serve their whole sentence." In 1999, the county granted early releases to more than 6,000 of the 10,000-plus jail inmates. The problem with jail turnover began in the mid-1980s, when the county was forced to meet a 190-inmate federal population cap. Those who work closest with inmates agree that something needed to give back then, when the jail's daily population hovered around 200. But meeting the federal cap has become increasingly difficult, thanks to the present-day average daily population of 225. By noon every weekday, and by 5 p.m. each Friday, the number of inmates at the jail must drop to 190. A staff of release officers are responsible for determining who goes and who stays, narrowing their choices based on sentences, criminal history and the nature of the offense that put an inmate in jail. The officers also must consider the risk that an inmate may commit another crime after being set free. "It's very stressful. You know, you don't want to make mistakes. You don't want to release the wrong people," said Lt. Jim Warren, the jail commander. However, 54 percent of the inmates who walked free in the past three years landed back in jail within 12 months, a recent study shows. Former inmates who returned to jail either failed to make their court appearances, violated the conditions of their release or committed a new crime, according to the National Institute of Corrections report. In addition, repeat offenders generally have a history of anti-social behavior, trouble managing their anger and limited education and employment opportunities, the report said. In Jackson County, inmates who return to the jail have an average of 11 previous arrests. A bigger problem may be the message inmates receive when they're released early, Warren and others said. It's not that the county is lax on enforcement, but inmates know chances are good they'll be let go before they've served their time. The average inmate stays only 33 days. "They think there's no sanction ... There's no hammer," Warren said. "It's an attitude shift about the stigma attached with going to jail." One way to change that outlook is to put more inmates through rehabilitation programs, which are already proving to be a success, Kennedy said. "We know that locking people up is only a temporary solution. It doesn't really work," he added. The county has implemented programs that teach inmates vocations, get them off drugs and help them re-evaluate their behavior. In the "cognitive restructuring program" at the Talent work center -- where inmates are taught the importance of making the right choices -- only 10 of 400 inmates who completed the courses in 1999 reoffended. The program works, but more inmates need to complete it to significantly reduce the number of repeat offenders, Kennedy and others said. That would mean more jail space, more programming and more money -- at a time when the county faces cuts because of dropping federal timber revenues. The 85-bed work center in Talent is one program that could be affected by the budget troubles, officials said. "If we have to cut the work center, there goes the cognitive restructuring program, one that's proven to turn lives around," said Jackson County Commissioner Ric Holt. "But we have to make the decision of what's more important -- the history of Jackson County, prenatal care or keeping felons in jail. These are tough, tough decisions." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA