KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Research is underway to figure out why the inmate count at the Kalamazoo County Jail is declining.
The jail population is currently 362.
Sheriff Richard Fuller credits the decline to the addition of full-time mental health workers and the establishment of new programs.
“We have life skill programs that help people deal with things outside of jail when they get back out, help them understand some relaxation things and coping skills,” Fuller said.
Now, the sheriff’s office is trying to prove those changes, which were implemented when jail renovations were complete in 2013, are positively affecting recidivism.
“We are hoping that we can start showing that these numbers are lower because of these programs,” Fuller said.
The jail can currenly hold just over 400 inmates. Prior to the renovations, the jail had frequent problems with overcrowding.
