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Lane County Jail Releases Slow Down

Wikimedia

The Lane County Jail was one of several in Oregon that earned a reputation as a “revolving door” jail. 

Inmates seemed to depart soon after they arrived, because there simply was not room enough to hold all the people awaiting trial.  The passage of a levy in May 2013 appears to have had the desired effect: it put a lock on the revolving door. 

But the decrease in early releases is even steeper than expected. 

By the numbers:

  • First half of 2013, pre-levy: 2595 releases
  • Second half of 2013, post-levy: 830 releases

We talk to the Sheriff's Office about several factors affecting jail releases.  
 

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Geoffrey Riley is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has hosted the Jefferson Exchange on JPR since 2009. He's been a broadcaster in the Rogue Valley for more than 35 years, working in both television and radio.