Metro seeks federal help to cut back on inmate overcrowding
Las Vegas police announced Monday the department has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to help curb overcrowding at the Clark County Detention Center.
The federal department's Office of Justice Diagnostic Center will work with Metro to gather data and study changes in the Las Vegas Justice Court bail schedule, bail bondsman fee increases and staffing volume, according to a news release. Analysts will then recommend solutions to ease strain on staff and improve the safety.
Inmate population at CCDC has hit an all-time high, the Metropolitan Police Department said. In 2014, the facility averaged 3,900 inmates a day, with an average stay of 23.3 days. The national average is 22.9 days, and even that is considered long, the release said.
"We hope we can also better utilize existing re-entry and social service programs to reduce recidivism," said Metro Deputy Chief Charles Hank, head of the Detention Services Division.
Previously, Metro and the Department of Justice partnered put in place reforms to reduce Las Vegas officers' use of deadly force.
Contact Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma
