- March 4, 2025
A new program might release low-security inmates from jail without bond as they await trial. The measure would save the county money, reduce the jail population and discourage former inmates from reoffending.
“It has rippling effects on our community and our court system when somebody who cannot pay a $200 bond is in jail for nine days,” said County Judge Melissa Moore Stens, who asked the Flagler County Commission on Wednesday to consider the program.
“We’re not talking about someone who’s done this 10 times before; we’re talking about someone with a minimal criminal history,” Moore Stens said.
The program would cost $100,000 in its first year, but would save money as well: Moore Stens, who orchestrates court hearings for those newly arrested nearly every day, estimates that 30 people per month would be eligible for pretrial release without posing a significant threat to public safety.
Holding those 30 people in jail for four days, the average minimum stay for inmates, would cost the county $10,800 for the month.
“Ultimately, the county pays to house these individuals for whatever length of time it may be,” Moore Stens said.
Often, people accused of crimes will get stuck in jail because they cannot post bond, Moore Stens said. It can be difficult for inmates to get in touch with someone outside the jail to secure funds for bond because cell phones cannot accept collect calls. And, since inmates cannot use their debit cards to access their own funds, they often have no way to get bond money. So, they stay in jail.
Meanwhile, the overcrowded jail needs more cell space for medium- and high-security prisoners, Moore Stens said.
For many people, an extended visit in jail means a loss of a job and sometimes a loss of housing. When these people are released, they are more likely to commit another crime or run into substance abuse problems, Moore Stens said.
Under the current system, inmates who pay their bond are released from jail and told to refrain from certain activities, such as using drugs or alcohol. But there is no way to monitor that, Moore Stens said. She hopes that a pretrial release program would add a level of accountability to the court system.
“Simple monitoring keeps people from committing a crime again; it’s a simple fact,” said Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre. “When people know they’re being monitored, they’re less likely to commit those crimes.”
The County Commission was generally receptive of the program. Commissioner Barbara Revels worried that the program would increase in costs over the years, while Commissioner Frank Meeker suggested waiting a year or two to implement it.
“We’re having to play catch-up so much this year that I’m starting to worry about the last straw on the camel’s back problem,” Meeker said.
The program might have long-term benefits, Commissioner Nate McLaughlin said. Not only would pretrial release help temper the crowded jail as a new facility is built, but it might prevent the county from needing to expand its jail again in the future.
“The net cost here is zero, at the end of the day,” McLaughlin said.
The county will decide during an Aug. 12 workshop whether to fund the program.
