Oakland County releases 228 prisoners at overcrowded Oakland Co. Jail

Sheriff declares state of emergency at jail; court orders both felony, misdemeanor offenders to reviewed for release

DETROIT – Oakland County has been forced to release 228 prisoners because there isn't enough space for them at its jail in Pontiac.

Oakland County Chief Circuit Court Judge Pro Tem Shalina Kumar ordered the release in response to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard's emergency declaration on Aug. 8 of overcrowding at the jail -- which can hold 1,510 prisoners.

Sheriff Bouchard said the overcrowding problem arose because of the number of prisoners sent to jail by the courts.

"I have no control over who gets sentenced to jail. So we went into emergency overcrowding. We actually had people sleeping on the gym floor," Bouchard said.

Michigan law requires sentence reductions if prisoners don't pose a high risk.

Both misdemeanor and felony offenders were reviewed for release -- but those with assaultive or drunk driving charges were not eligible.
Of the 228 offenders, 73 were felons and 155 had misdemeanors charges.

Sheriff Bouchard said the inmates with minor charges were a major cause of the overcrowding. 

"If you look at the list, you, like myself and a lot of other people, say, 'Why were they in jail anyway?' You have 38 who were in for either suspended license or no operator's license on their person. Had those 38 not been in jail and maybe cleaning the highways on the weekends as an alternative for misdemeanors or on a tether, we wouldn't have been in overcrowding," Bouchard said.

READ: Oakland County prisoner release breakdown

This is the second time this year the jail has been overcrowded -- a similar released happened in March.

READ: Oakland County court order on releases

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