In July of 2008, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported (page 9) that the jail capacity was 810. Then, suddenly, in August, they reported (page 9) the capacity was 485. Why would the sheriff’s office do this? In July, the jail was at 80% capacity. According to this report, it was NOT over capacity. As in, it was not overcrowded. And then, in August, the number suddenly shot down to 485, and the Sheriff’s Office was able to suddenly claim that the jail was 131% over capacity. 131%! But get this–the police department now claims that, with a capacity of 732 in September, that it is 151% over capacity.
In July 2008, there were 651 inmates in the jail. In August, there were 636–15 fewer than July. Yet, according to this new report, it was over capacity. They also claimed in January 2004 that the capacity was 618 and that it was at 100% capacity, even though there were 616 inmates. June 2004 was when the capacity was changed to 810 and was at 77% capacity.
Today, the jail’s number of inmates is at 814, which, at the old 810 capacity number, would make the jail only slightly over capacity.
Reports dating back to January 2004 can be found here.
A HUGE thanks to James Bell for posting the link to this Monthly Jail Reports page on Topix.
