By Dave Niinemets
Enquirer contributor

Eleven state inmates serving time in Northern Kentucky county jails will receive early release because of the state budget crunch.

As a result of a gubernatorial cost-cutting measure, the prisoners will be freed even though their Class D felony sentences have not expired.

OUT OF JAIL

Campbell County Jail (one) James Jent: Receiving stolen property under $300. Kenton County Jail (four) Woodrow Perry: Theft by unlawful taking under $300. Christopher Burne: Receiving stolen property under $300. Brian Eversole: Flagrant non-support. Robert Jones: Criminal possession of a forged instrument-second degree. Boone County Jail (six) Rodney Voland: Receiving stolen property. Gregory Sanders: Firearm possession, trafficking marijuana. Tricia Marcum: Criminal possession of a forged instrument-second degree. Michael Casebolt: Flagrant non-support. Joseph McConnell: Burglary-third degree. Maxine Born: Theft by unlawful taking over $300.

One prisoner will leave the Campbell County Jail. Kenton County will discharge four prisoners and Boone County, six.

The release is the result of an order from Gov. Paul Patton this week to free up money in the state budget. A total of 567 inmates will be discharged early from jails throughout Kentucky today and Friday.

"The release of inmates is yet another budget reduction that I have asked the Department of Corrections to endure over the last year," Mr. Patton said in a statement. "But this latest cost-cutting measure, the release of inmates, proves that there are no easy solutions in trying to get a grasp on Kentucky's budget situation."

The state faces a budget shortfall conservatively estimated at about $500 million over the next few years.

Kenton County Jailer Terry Carl said it's too early to tell what financial effect this will have on his jail. Per diem money from the state for each prisoner will be lost.

The per diem for each prisoner is $28.76. Losing six inmates will cost Boone County $5,176.80 per month. Kenton will lose $3,451.20 and Campbell will lose $862.80 per month. Those figures don't take into account the work inmates provide for public service. Mr. Carl says the impact could become drastic, depending on whether there are more releases in the future.

The 11 state prisoners released are not all the state prisoners housed in the three local county jails. Boone for example, has 42 of these overflow state penitentiary inmates, who are sent to county jails because of state prison overcrowding.

Some counties count on the income from the overflow prisoners and budget it into their annual operating plans.

"This caught us all off guard," Mr. Carl said. "If he (Gov. Patton) takes a large number, it will really affect the budget. We're in the dark. We're not sure how it will affect us."

Boone County Jailer Ed Prindle said he understands the financial reasons for the cuts. He said the long-term effect might not be so bad because many of those released weren't going to stay there much longer.

"They were individuals who would have been released in the next four to six months anyway," he said.

Mr. Prindle's bigger concern is the message sent by the releases.

"When we start doing bulk releases we're not looking at the specific case and the public's best interest," he said.

He also said it doesn't send a good message to those being released.

"It's like when you discipline your kids and don't follow through with punishment. You find that your kids misbehave again and that's what we're afraid will happen here."

Those to be released were all Class D felons. Only non-violent offenders will be freed. Those charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and flagrant non-support are among the group released.

Those serving time on domestic violence or sex abuse charges, the governor's office promised, will not be released early. Neither will those serving time for a fourth DUI conviction.

The order conditionally commutes the sentences of the offenders. If they are convicted and sentenced for a new felony offense, the number of days the offender was released in advance will be added to the time ordered to serve for the new felony conviction.

The releases bring the state's county inmate population to 3,763, the budgeted population for the fiscal year.