Clark County’s courts face changes to control jail population

Clark County’s criminal justice and courts system faces changes in the months ahead that are aimed at keeping down the length of inmate stays at the County Detention Center.

The changes will be wide-ranging, primarily with the goals of speeding up the court process, reducing bail, or a combination of both for nonviolent offenders.

County commissioners on Tuesday discussed the goals, which were developed with input from members of the criminal justice system.

The goals come as the county is facing a budget deficit when operating the detention center and looking for ways to trim costs. The jail has a projected deficit of $21.9 million for this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Meanwhile, the length of stays in the jail has steadily grown. In fiscal year 2012, the average was 16.2 days per inmate. By fiscal year 2014, it was 22.6 days.

So far this fiscal year, which ends June 30, it’s 24.3 days.

The long-term outlook is grim without making changes. Even with an increase of $20 million, which would give the jail $200.5 million from the general fund, the facility will face shortfalls next year.

The end fund balance that’s been used to prop up the jail’s budget is steadily dwindling. It was $91.8 million in 2011. But by the end of this fiscal year, it’s projected to be just $21.4 million, according to the figures commissioners heard Tuesday. The estimate for 2016 is just $6.1 million.

Overall, the daily detention center population averaged out to slightly more than 3,700 inmates in December 2014.

The planned changes come with input from Metro, judges, the district attorney’s office, and the public defender’s office.

Changes include accepting felony guilty pleas in Justice Court, where cases begin, instead of District Court.

On the District Court level, the changes would include setting sooner sentencing dates and binding over inmates from Justice Court within 24 hours.

District Attorney Steven Wolfson and Public Defender Philip Kohn are working on pilot programs that will start in March.

The programs will allow defendants who plead guilty to gross misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies to move through the system more quickly after accepting an offer.

The current wait of up to 15 days for inmates after accepting an offer would be shaved in most cases.

“It’s working smarter and more efficiently,” Wolfson said.

Kohn said the delays are often needless, since both sides already know the outcome will be probation, but the defendant cannot afford to make bail.

In that vein, officials also are looking at bail schedules and the practice of “stacking” the bail. In those cases, a dollar amount is added for each individual charge.

Officials believe that’s too excessive in some cases, but stressed that defendants accused of violent crimes merit high bails for public safety. Those who write bad checks, however, face potential stacking of burglary, forgery and theft charges. One alternative is to only set bail based on the most serious charge, except in serious cases involving violence.

Commissioner Susan Brager said it’s important that the system take into account youthful adults — 18 or 19 years old — who commit a misdemeanors and later become productive.

Assistant County Manager Jeff Wells said the county appreciated the input from all who are involved in the criminal justice system.

County commissioners will talk more about the detention center in March during budget planning.

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