In a recent email we received from our friends at B.A.I.L Florida there was a Pretrial Services Agency success story. And when we talk about a success story, please know that we are referring to the permanent closure of a Pretrial Services Agency as a “success”. The case study documents Pasco County Florida’s results after eliminating its Pretrial Services Agency.
Pasco County Findings
Due to budget constraints, in 2007 Pasco County eliminated its government run PTR program, saving taxpayers $348,000 per year. In 2008, the county’s jail population increase was a negligible 5 bed days per year (an increase from 1,262 to 1,267)…a less than 0.4% increase. However, when considering the population growth of the county during that same time, there was a net decrease of 2.2% in per capita bed days. Per capita occupancy went DOWN, not up!
Due to budget constraints, in 2007 Pasco County eliminated its government run PTR program, saving taxpayers $348,000 per year. In 2008, the county’s jail population increase was a negligible 5 bed days per year (an increase from 1,262 to 1,267)…a less than 0.4% increase. However, when considering the population growth of the county during that same time, there was a net decrease of 2.2% in per capita bed days. Per capita occupancy went DOWN, not up!
Sources: Florida Department of Corrections, Index to Statistics and Publication; US Census population estimates.
“Due to budget cuts, we completely cut out the pretrial release program in Pasco County. As a result, we saved taxpayers nearly $350,000 last year and haven’t seen any noticeable change in our jail population. I have had great success in doing away with the pretrial release program.”
–Pasco County Sheriff Bob White
–Pasco County Sheriff Bob White
“We have had great success with the Pretrial Program being eliminated in Pasco County.”
–Pasco County Commissioner Michael Cox
–Pasco County Commissioner Michael Cox
Conclusion
The complete elimination of the taxpayer financed pretrial release program in Pasco County had no significant impact on jail population. If any impact must be drawn, one could conclude that eliminating the program actually reduced the per capita jail population while saving taxpayers nearly $350,000 per year.
The complete elimination of the taxpayer financed pretrial release program in Pasco County had no significant impact on jail population. If any impact must be drawn, one could conclude that eliminating the program actually reduced the per capita jail population while saving taxpayers nearly $350,000 per year.