Significantly fewer people in jail or being arrested…that is one
result of the coronavirus pandemic locally.
WJRS Local News recently talked with Jailer Bobby Dunbar about the
number of persons being arrested or lodged for detention at the local
facility.
Dunbar says there has been a huge decrease in the number of people
booked over the recent month or so. According to Dunbar, for the year thus
far, 184 persons were booked and lodged during the month of January; 147 during
February; 103 during the month of March.
However, thru Tuesday of
this week, April 28th, only 37 persons had been arrested and lodged
at the local detention facility. To put that in perspective, the average for
the first three months of the year was 125 inmates per month, compared to
around 40 for April, or less than one third the monthly average.
Part of the reason is an Order from the Kentucky Supreme Court
that low lever misdemeanor offenses be released on their own signature, thus
not having to be lodged or make bond. Also, local officials have made a
concerted effort to reduce the jail population following recommendations of
public health officials.
Also, some local officials say there just has not been as much
criminal activity in the past several weeks as a result of the
coronavirus.