Lane County judges urge jail funding boost
Thursday, December 11, 2008 10:13 AM PST
EUGENE (AP) — All 15 Lane County Circuit Court judges say the county jail is in such bad shape they decided to ask publicly that county commissioners boost funding.
Presiding Judge Mary Ann Bearden calls their letter to Lane County commissioners an unusual move by the judges to address budget problems that have ‘‘directly affected the administration of criminal justice.’’
The judges say the lack of funding endangers county residents because the judges can’t do their job.
The jail budget is so low that only 127 of its 695 beds are being used. So many inmates are being released early, the judges say, that the system is breaking down.