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the -right direction. However, if we moved everybody into a <br />stockade today, we probably still would be over what is allowed <br />by the D.O.C. in a few months. Mr. Colton noted that some other <br />counties are saying we are doing all we can do, and if you want <br />to sue us, go ahead, and he believed thirty suits have been filed <br />so far. Mr. Colton felt some of the D.O.C. regulations are <br />unreasonable; he clarified that he is not suggesting the County <br />just defy what the D.O.C. is telling them to do, but he would <br />suggest the the County take every reasonable step to reduce the <br />jail population and then say we have done all we can and sue us <br />if you must. <br />Mr. Colton noted that Judge Smith has addressed the <br />explosion in the crime rate in the county; no one foresaw a 50% <br />increase. The same thing has happened to law enforcement, the <br />court system, and the Clerk's office; they are all caught in the <br />same position, and all may need to come to the Board for an extra <br />allocation to hire more personnel in order to cope. Mr. Colton <br />again stressed that they would be in favor of programs that would <br />reduce the jail population, but are opposed to just any crash <br />program. He pointed out that people almost never go to jail the <br />first time they are accused of a crime, and we cannot just let <br />these people out while we debate the merits of the system. Also <br />in regard to those who commit misdemeanors, Mr. Colton noted that <br />some of them need to go to jail, and the State Attorney .is not in <br />favor of simply clearing them out. The proposed expanded work <br />program seems to be a good idea, and he believed that program <br />could pay for itself. He also felt we should look into the <br />alternative of leasing mobile home facilities, which he believed <br />was done in Martin County. A stockade could lessen the problem, <br />and he felt some non-violent felons could be put in such a <br />facility. Mr. Colton emphasized that the State Attorney is <br />trying to cooperate, but felt only so much can be done. <br />Clerk Freda Wright concurred with Judge Smith's statements <br />re the tremendous growth in the felony division and stated that <br />9 <br />SOK <br />