An emergency order has been issued by the Commonwealth of Kentucky due to overcrowding at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
The order, signed by Chief Regional Circuit Judge Charles L. Cunningham Jr. on Thursday, states the number of inmates housed in the facility “consistently exceeds by dozens, and on many days hundreds” the number the people the building can lodge safely.
The document says one reason for the overcrowding is the Kentucky Department of Corrections cannot accept prisoners sentenced to serve time in state facilities.
The Commonwealth says the amount of overcrowding puts the safety of both the staff and inmates at risk, in addition to costing taxpayers a significant amount of money.
To help resolve to overcrowding issue several inmates will be released to Home Incarceration Program, or HIP.
A list of inmates who are being housed on Circuit Court cash bonds or are being held at the Community Corrections Center will be made to determine who will be released on the Home Incarceration Program.
Inmates who have broken Louisville Metro Department of Corrections rules, indicted for an offense which resulted in death or serious physical injury to a victim, indicted for an A or B felony or as being a Persistent Felony Offender, accused of violating an Emergency Protective Order or Domestic Violation Order, has a Circuit Court cash bond greater than $25,000 or any District Court bond, or being held on an escape charge will not be considered for the program.
Once a list has been created, the order states it must be forwarded to the Circuit Court Administrator and distributed to judges assigned to the cases involved. A copy must also be given to the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney and the Metro Public Defender or their designees for approval.
Each day on Home Incarceration Program will count as a day in custody, according to the emergency order. Those released on the program will be randomly drug tested. They will also be monitored by GPS and charged with felony escape if they leave without permission. Anyone who violates the terms of the program will be sent back to Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
According to Jefferson Circuit Court, it costs $76 a day to supervise an inmate in Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, $83 a day in the Community Corrections Center and $19 on the Home Incarceration Program.
Louisville Metro Department of Corrections currently has the equipment to supervise 750 inmates on the Home Incarcerations Program, according to officials. Approximately 600 people are currently being supervised on the Home Incarceration Program.
Source: WAVE
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