Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/336863
Because of the demand for the program among judges, Bell continued, the judicial system has about a three-month delay from the time of sentencing until more people can enter the program. Bell also pointed out that it keeps the jail from becoming overcrowded. Last year, Knight noted earlier, the average population count in the jail was 944. He added that the county also saves money through the program because his office does not have to provide medical care or meals for the people in it. The Sheriff's Office's annual report for 2013 says the program "continues to be a unique but important sentencing alternative for low- level offenders who historically would serve jail time over consecutive weekends. The option was designed to reduce costs by not paying to house and feed additional inmates. Giving certain offenders the opportunity to serve their sentence through the work pro- gram performs a public service while allowing the offenders to maintain their employment and return to their families each night. In all, 280 people were sentenced to the [program] in 2013 and 159 of them completed [it]. Those who fail to complete the work program must serve their original jail sentences but on con- secutive days, not [just on] weekends. Work A graphic shows officer-to-population ratios for several Florida counties and for the police departments in North Port, Sarasota and Venice. Image courtesy Sheriff's Office Sarasota News Leader June 27, 2014 Page 35