BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- Butler County officials worry about the impact the overcrowded county jail has on public safety.
The 28-year-old jail was built in 1970 for 80 inmates, but usually houses 185.
On Thursday, it had 211, almost three times the maximum recommended by the state.
The jail releases about 300 inmates a year before they finish serving their sentences in order to accept new prisoners accused or convicted of more serious crimes, Sheriff Harold Don Gabbard said.
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IDEAS FOR OVERCROWDING
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Butler County Sheriff Harold Don Gabbard has attempted many different stopgap measures.
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There are 13,000 arrest warrants that cannot be served because there is no room, he said.
"Just about every day, we have to release prisoners to accept new ones," he said.
County commissioners said Thursdaythey would form a work group to recommend a plan to build and pay for a new jail.
"The best deterrent to crime is swift and sure punishment," said Commissioner Chuck Furmon, a retired Hamilton police lieutenant. "It's down to crunch time. We must move on this and get something done."
Commissioner Mike Fox, who will be chairman of the work group, said the jail situation endangers police officers and the public because it allows people who should be in jail to remain on the streets. "We cannot continue to put our police officers in this position," Mr. Fox said.
"It's wrong."
Mr. Gabbard said he doesn't expect a new jail to be built for one to two years.
"Until then, we'll do the best with what we have," he said.
