The Sheriff’s Report to the Independence County Quorum Court Monday night showed the department has generated over $117,000 in revenue for the County Treasury.
Over $90,000 of that amount was received for housing State 309 Prisoners. Other prisoners being held for the state has generated almost $4,400. Usually, a county jail holds state prisoners who are awaiting a bed to “open up” in one of the prison sites.
Overcrowding has been a problem in the state prison system for several years. The reason for that is very simple — crimes are being committed at a high rate, arrests are being made, and the perpetrators are being found guilty in the court system. Law enforcement will tell you that it seems like very little time passes before inmates are back on the streets.
Some change their behavior for the good, but many more are back to a life of crime.
In February alone in Independence County, 186 crimes were reported to the sheriff’s department with 128 being cleared. The sheriff’s report shows that so far this year just over $114,000 in property was stolen. The sheriff said that just over $140,000 in property has been recovered. Some from recent thefts, and some from past thefts.
The report to the quorum court also shows that deputies received 644 calls for service, and that included 25 accidents.
Sheriff Stephens said deputies drove just over 31,000 miles patrolling county roads.
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