SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Overcrowding at the Salt Lake County Jail is forcing officials to let prisoners go free. Fourteen inmates were let go over the weekend.
In addition, some of those released were convicted of Class A misdemeanors. Sheriff Jim Winder says overcrowding at the jail is now a critical situation.
“You know we've been in this position on knife's edge for a year now,” said Winder.
The sheriff says if bookings continue at their current rate at the jail, then some dangerous people could be set free.
Winder says he's pushing hard to re-open the 560-bed Oxbow facility. It's just down the road from the jail and has been closed since 2002.
Sheriff Winder says of the 14 inmates released over the weekend, 3 were convicted of class A misdemeanors. The rest were Class B or C misdemeanors. In other words, they did not commit serious or violent crimes.
