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County to track freed inmates By Jessica Smith of the Mail Tribune Hoping to prevent suspected criminals from skipping out on their court hearings, the Jackson County Community Corrections Department has implemented a new program to track offenders. About 100 Jackson County Jail inmates are released each week to meet a federally mandated inmate cap, but at least one-third of them never show in court, according to corrections officials. "They just go on living their normal life out in the community and they don't show up. They're not being responsible individuals," said presiding Circuit Court Judge Ross Davis. On Wednesday, Davis presided over a ceremony to swear in four court officers who will run a pre-trial release program that is expected to cut down on the number of offenders who miss their court dates. According to Davis and others, the program will also reduce costs in the criminal justice system. "If someone doesn't show up in court, it's very expensive," Davis said. Costs associated with warrants, further arrests and processing suspects a second time can be avoided, he said. "We'd like to do all that as few times as possible and get the case over with." On Monday, 10 of 31 defendants scheduled for trial this week failed to appear. In each case, the judge issued a warrant. According to Bob Grindstaff, the county's chief parole and probation officer, between 85 to 90 percent of the released offenders in the supervision program are expected to make their court appearances. Grindstaff said the county hired three additional corrections workers for the program, which is budgeted at $100,000 a year. "It's a lot cheaper than building a new jail ... which the county doesn't have the money for anyway," Grindstaff said. Supervising offenders is much more cost-effective than managing an additional 100 jail beds, which could cost the county as much as $2 million a year, Grindstaff said. The program is the result of a National Institute of Corrections report which suggested supervising defendants released before trial. It was developed by the Public Safety Coordinating Council, composed of criminal justice workers in the county. Pre-trial release eligibility is based on the nature of the crime -- typically misdemeanors -- and a defendant's "flight risk," Grindstaff said. Under the program, defendants will be assigned to a case supervisor who will work with them to ensure they meet all their court appearances. The program will be tailored to each defendant and officials said case supervisors may use telephone calls, house visits and other methods to check on released offenders. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA