Yet another cost of Mecklenburg’s underfunded DA’s office — $110 a day to keep those awaiting trial locked up. That’s an outrage on several levels, including cost and civil liberties. Getting people to trial quickly is both fair and cost effective:
“We’re in a housing crunch right now as far as space,” Sheriff Jim Pendergraph said Monday. “The biggest growing area in the jail population is pre-trial, which is all the people over here on Fourth Street, sitting over there in jail awaiting their court date. If we could get people through the court system quicker, it would reduce the pressure on our Jail-Central.” …
“Funding the DA’s office and every other aspect of the state court system would be less than what we’re paying now to house them,” he said.
Just, fair, and cheaper. Does it stand a chance?
