Quote Originally Posted by “Zach Murdock”
Sheriff Tom Knight told Sarasota County commissioners that the county has two options:

  • Reduce the jail population or
  • Build and pay for a new jail, a daunting and controversial undertaking that would take years and upwards of $80 million.

Knight said he wants to avoid a new jail and wants to focus on:

  • work offender programs
  • re-entry programs
  • homeless outreach programs
  • specialty courts

Knight said those programs are less expensive than borrowing money to build a new jail. “I believe it’s cheaper than building cells.”

Corrections Maj. Jeff Bell said, “Arrest rates are declining.”

Commissioners agreed they want programs.
Full story:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20...il-at-capacity