Fewer Jail Inmates Last Year

According to stats released yesterday by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, local jail populations decreased over the last year for the first time in more than a decade – and in Austin, the decrease was dramatic.

Overall, the BJS reports, the local jail population nationwide decreased by 2.3%, for a total of 767,620 inmates held as of mid-year 2009. That's the first decline in more than a decade; since 2000, the jail population has increased by about 3% each year.

In Travis Co. the drop in population was even more dramatic: In the two-year period from mid-year 2007 to 2009, Austin's local jail population declined a whopping 16.7%. As of last summer, the average daily jail population was down to 2,459 inmates. As a result, the county's jail occupancy rate declined to 82% last year. That's no small feat for a county jail system that has struggled in the past with overcrowding.

But why the decrease? Likely a combination of factors, says Travis Co. Sheriff's Office spokesman Roger Wade. A group of local officials working on jail diversion issues has played a part, as has the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice moving more quickly to transfer prisoners from county jail to state prison after sentences have been meted out. Also in the mix to help reduce the population are various diversion programs the county has in place, – including programs like drug and DWI courts. "All that combined to help reduce the population," says Wade.

Still, Wade notes that already the jail has seen an "upswing" in numbers since last summer. Bookings have steadily increased, he says, and he says he's told that with the general population increase in the area, "and the record number of arrests, these numbers will increase in the future."

Indeed, crime did increase in Austin in 2009, despite the decline nationwide, according to the latest crime stats released late last month by the FBI. According to the annual preliminary uniform crime report, violent crime in the U.S. decreased by 5.5% in 2009, while property crimes decreased 4.9%. Unfortunately, in Austin both categories of crime nosed upward: violent crime (led by increases in aggravated assault and robbery) was up 2.3%, while property crimes (carried by increases in theft and burglary) rose 7.2%. The FBI also reports that arson declined 10.4% nationally last year while in Austin arson reports increased from 87 reports in 2008 to 96 last year, a change of 10.3%.