Clark County moving to reduce jail headcount, cut costs

Clark County officials are trying to reduce the detention center’s population and the length of jail stays in an effort to get the facility’s deficit under control.

A pilot program to bind defendants over for District Court sentencing in 48 hours rather than the current seven days was launched Monday, Las Vegas Township Justice Court Chief Judge Joe Bonaventure told commissioners Tuesday.

The wide-ranging effort includes shortening the time before a defendant is sentenced in District Court, putting more nonviolent offenders on house arrest, reducing bail schedules, and binding over defendants from Justice Court to District Court more quickly when they’re ready to enter a guilty plea.

“Conversations have been very positive and very productive,” County Manager Don Burnette said. “We’re making, in my opinion, great progress.”

The county has had talks with the Metropolitan Police Department, judges, the public defender and the district attorney’s office about ways to reduce the length of stays. Metro runs the jail, and the county sets its budget.

The County Detention Center is projected to run a $21.9 million deficit this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Officials hope to avoid a deficit in the next fiscal year by aggressive moves to reduce the population of the 3,875-inmate facility by 550 to 600 inmates. That would save about $16 million.

The transition to a more rapid transfer to District Court is largely possible through technical changes because the files and documents must be in the District Court system. Attorneys and judges also will need to keep the change in scheduling in mind as they plan cases.

Bonaventure told commissioners that the long-term changes will require effort from all who are involved in the justice system.

“It does involve a substantial culture change,” Bonaventure said. “There are a lot of changes that need to take place, but it’s a long-term solution.”

Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak asked if the number of temporary cots is being reduced in the jail.

“We’ve already begun removing those cots,” said Assistant Sheriff Todd Fasulo. “Every day they go down.”

Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said he was pleased with the progress compared to the past, when it seemed that improvements were slow.

“At one point, I just thought ‘You know what? This is almost like watching a gerbil going around on his wheel,’” said Weekly, who has the detention center in his district. “… I’m just happy as to where we are today.”

Contact Ben Botkin at Botkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.