Police could start sending Springfield inmates to other counties next week

Officials have signed contracts that allow the Springfield Police Department to ship some of the city’s inmates to other counties’ jails.

Springfield City Council unanimously voted to approve the plan last month. Suspects arrested on municipal charges could be held at the Miller County Jail in Tuscumbia or  theTaney County Jail in Forsyth because Sheriff Jim Arnott has effectively barred them from the Greene County jail.

According to Arnott, the jail that Springfield police had been using since the early 2000s no longer has room to hold suspects arrested on the least serious charges. Overcrowding at the jail has led to friction between Springfield and Greene County officials, even leading to a pending lawsuit. Springfield's agreement with Taney and Miller counties will cost the city $500,000 in surplus funds.

Miller County officials have agreed to make a four-hour round trip to and from Springfield once or twice a day, Monday through Friday.

But Springfield police will be responsible for transportation to and from the Taney County jail, which is about an hour away.

As part of the deal, law enforcement is not required to bring Springfield’s inmates back to town when they are released, either after making bond or serving time. Some critics have raised concerns that people will be stranded out of town.

Springfield Councilman Craig Fishel raised the question of whether the city should do something about the transportation issue on Tuesday at a council lunch meeting.

Police Chief Paul Williams said he would argue against "establishing some new precedent where we're going to operate a taxi service for people who are released from custody."

“Providing transportation for people released from jail or released on bond is not a common practice," said Williams.

Councilman Craig Hosmer said at the meeting that he does not have a problem with not transporting people after they're released.

"This isn't something we've created. This is something Greene County's created and we're trying to make the best of a bad situation," said Hosmer.

No inmates have been transported to other counties yet, according to Williams.

He said officials are working to finalize procedures and they could start as soon as next week.

Miller County officials expressed concern in March that Springfield’s inmates who couldn’t find their own rides home would be left wandering the streets of Tuscumbia.

Capt. Kyle Mason with the Miller County Sheriff’s Office told the News-Leader that Miller County deputies are willing to bring released inmates back to Springfield when they make their daily trips.

“If they want to stick around until our transport van goes back to Springfield, we are happy to take them back,” Mason said. “It’s common sense. We’re headed that way anyway.”

Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell told the News-Leader that his deputies won't be involved in transporting Springfield inmates.