COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Jail is not there yet, but the overcrowding has almost officially ended. Tuesday the number of inmates was down to 143, just one over the rated capacity for the jail. It’s been 22 straight days that the jail over been overcrowded. Sheriff John Pollack declared an emergency two weeks ago Friday and notified the courts. The judges have to decide whether an early release with sentence reductions or reduced bonds will be ordered to rectify the situation.
Branch County Probate Judge Kirk Kashian there needs to a closer look at exactly how serious an offense needs to be to require incarceration. He also said that so-called Drug Courts have been successful in some counties to help reduce the number of people put behind bars.
