KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — While most of us have gotten back to normal routines post-pandemic, not everyone has.
Some inmates at the Kalamazoo County Jail will be spending a second Thanksgiving away from their families, because of the court backlog caused by COVID-19.
Before the pandemic, the jail mostly held minor offenders sentenced to less than a year, and felony suspects waiting for trial. Now they are mostly felony suspects, deemed too dangerous to be released and unable to afford bail.
According to Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller, many have substance abuse or mental health problems.
“There’s a heavy social work need more now than ever before, and we’re constantly working through the physical and mental health needs of this entire jail population,” said Fuller who noted that at one point, nearly a third of the inmates were suspects being held for capital offenses.
“We’re down into the 40s now, and that’s taken a lot of work by a lot of people, and it also puts a lot of pressure on the system,” said Fuller who stressed that the situation not only puts a strain on the Inmates but his staff as well. He currently has 17 open positions at the jail that he has been unable to fill.
“The pool of applicants that used to come for law enforcement jobs across the nation has become a puddle,” said Fuller.
And it appears at the pace the Courts are working on the backlog, many more national holidays may pass before all of those inmates finally get their day in court.
(Reporting by: John McNeill)
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