An innovative pre-trial release program has saved Rowan County more than $800,000 in potential jail costs since its inception.
The program, started in May 2000, uses profits from the jail vending machines to bond out low-risk detainees who are awaiting trial.
A total of 380 detainees have been accepted and bonded out using the vending machine money.
Another 48 were able to bond out on their own, with the help of V.T. “Buddy” Poplin, the program’s coordinator.
Almost two years ago, the county detention center was overflowing with people awaiting trial.
The county faced spending more than a million dollars to add more beds.
After a detailed look at the population, county officials determined that many of the inmates were not serious threats to life or property. Instead they were people unable to make minimum bonds.
Before the program was started, an inmate could be held 90 days or more, unable to make a $1,000 bond.
After looking at a variety of pre-trial programs across the state, county officials hit on the idea of posting bond with jail vending machine proceeds.
The program has substantially reduced the daily jail population, and delayed the major expenditure to add more beds.
Last month, the average daily population at the detention center was 164.
The previous year, the average daily population was 193. And in some instances, more than 230 people were in jail, greatly exceeding the detention center’s holding capacity.
The savings is based on taking the number of inmate days had they remained in jail times the nearly $62 a day cost of keeping inmates in jail.
Through the end of November, the number of days inmates would have remained in jail, including continuances, was 28,803.
Pre-trial services paid out just under $40,000 during the 16-month period.
County Manager Tim Russell and Resident Superior Court Judge Larry Ford played key roles in getting the program started.
Officials have repeatedly called pre-trial a win-win for the county. It operates under the county manager’s office.
Under the program, those who are bonded out are asked to repay the county. Officials admit they don’t expect to get much of the money back. Detainees have reimbursed the county almost $6,000.
Officials cite another savings —that from medical costs the county would have been responsible for had the detainees remained in jail.
Medical savings for the 16-month period is estimated at $81,000.
On a daily basis, Poplin checks the detention log to see who is being held, what for and the amount of bond.
He contacts the detainees to see if they are interested in the program and if they qualify. Since the program started, Poplin has conducted 920 interviews and approved 380 for pre-trial release.
As part of the program, emphasis is put on bonding out people with serious medical conditions, to avoid the county’s paying large medical bills.
Pre-trial release has bonded out 35 people with serious medical conditions.
The program has won a state award and has drawn statewide attention from other counties facing overpopulated jails.
Contact Jessie Burchette at jburchette@salisburypost.com or call 704-797-4254.
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