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.