Grants Pass, Oregon Releases Inmates After Budget Cuts Leave County With 'No Other Alternative'

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Dozens of inmates ran whooping from a small town jail into the sunshine Wednesday after a cash-strapped county in Oregon's timber region was forced to release them amid budget cuts.

The sheriff's office released 39 inmates, dropping the population at the jail in Grants Pass to 60 – half of them federal prisoners held on contract.
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"We did keep the worst of the worst" – those facing charges for crimes that carry mandatory prison sentences – said Jail Commander Vicki Smith.
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The sheriff's office was forced to cut staffing to levels not seen since 1991 after voters emphatically turned down a $12 million levy to plug a gap left by the expiration of federal timber subsidies. Since then, applications for concealed weapons permits have skyrocketed, many taken by people concerned that the sheriff's cuts will lead to a rise in crime.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/30/grants-pass-oregon-inmates_n_1557904.html

There's more to this story, but I can't get it all in 4 paragraphs. Those not considered the "worst of the worst" are still pretty bad. What happens to victims out there that think their attacker (for lack of a better term) is in jail?

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17 replies	Author	Time	Post
Grants Pass, Oregon Releases Inmates After Budget Cuts Leave County With 'No Other Alternative' (Original post)	Renew Deal	May 2012	OP
The only good that can come out of this could be that those jailed because of pot use	lumpy	May 2012	#1
A lot of people in jail have not been convicted..	Fumesucker	May 2012	#2
Yes, the article mentions that...	Renew Deal	May 2012	#6
I take it they have no room to hold Occupy protesters if any were in the area?	Zalatix	May 2012	#3
AGREED	Mr Dixon	May 2012	#8
Good idea, but occupying Grant's Pass would be less than effective.	Egalitarian Thug	May 2012	#13
The counties which lost federal timber revenue in 91 lost the subsidies meant to	Bluenorthwest	May 2012	#4
Let me guess: they let the violent offenders go and hung onto	kestrel91316	May 2012	#5
Ummm, no	Renew Deal	May 2012	#7
Well Mr. Smith sure qualifies as violent. The drug offense is beside the point. And sex offenders	kestrel91316	May 2012	#9
All those people would have eventually been released anyway.	Comrade Grumpy	May 2012	#10
Tell that to the victims.	Renew Deal	May 2012	#11
Let us know when there are some.	Comrade Grumpy	May 2012	#14
This message was self-deleted by its author	Renew Deal	May 2012	#16
Let's start with this 14 year old.	Renew Deal	May 2012	#17
I hope this is a trend that hits State governments soon.	ProgressiveEconomist	May 2012	#12
I saw on the news today that will be happening	RebelOne	May 2012	#15

Response to Renew Deal (Original post)

Thu May 31, 2012, 10:29 AM

lumpy (12,138 posts)

1. The only good that can come out of this could be that those jailed because of pot use

are let free.

Grants Pass, Oregon Releases Inmates After Budget Cuts Leave County With 'No Other Alternative'

1. The only good that can come out of this could be that those jailed because of pot use

2. A lot of people in jail have not been convicted..

6. Yes, the article mentions that...

3. I take it they have no room to hold Occupy protesters if any were in the area?

8. AGREED

13. Good idea, but occupying Grant's Pass would be less than effective.

4. The counties which lost federal timber revenue in 91 lost the subsidies meant to

5. Let me guess: they let the violent offenders go and hung onto

7. Ummm, no

9. Well Mr. Smith sure qualifies as violent. The drug offense is beside the point. And sex offenders

10. All those people would have eventually been released anyway.

11. Tell that to the victims.

14. Let us know when there are some.

17. Let's start with this 14 year old.

12. I hope this is a trend that hits State governments soon.

15. I saw on the news today that will be happening