Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2003 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Author: Associated Press JAIL COSTS HIT $1 MILLION, MERCER OFFICIALS SAY PRINCETON -- Once promoted as a cost-saving measure, the state's regional jail system has become a financial burden that is costing Mercer County nearly $1 million a year in jail fees, county officials say. Being one of the busiest circuit and magistrate court systems in the state compounds the problem, said Joe Allen, chief adult probation officer for Mercer County. Allen said the county had 339 felony indictments last year, 756 felonies processed in magistrate court, 4,473 misdemeanor cases and 893 domestic violence cases, among others. "We are consistently among the top five in the state when it comes to court cases," he said. The county is considering a day-report center as a cost-saving, sentencing alternative for those convicted of nonviolent crimes. Allen said that at least 40 percent of incarcerated offenders are nonviolent, including drug offenders and those found guilty of such things as forgery, shoplifting, grand larcenies. These offenders, he said, could benefit from alternative sentencing programs that a day-report center could offer. Jim Baker, director of crisis services and staff development for the Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, is co-chair of a committee formed to advance the day-report center project and seek funding. "On the mental health side, probably one-fourth of the beds in state hospitals are filled with substance abusers," Baker said, "so the savings in medical costs could be extensive." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart