Inmates' request to wait out tough economy in Rockingham County jail is denied

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091014/GJNEWS_01/710149911/-1/FOSNEWS

By Geoff Cunningham Jr.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

<snip>Wright, the superintendent of Rockingham County House of Corrections, says spending time in his jail isn't fun, but he isn't surprised that a tough economy has some inmates reluctant to be released during a time when jobs are few and temperatures are dropping.

The jail superintendent said he recently received letters from two inmates requesting they be kept in jail despite them having served out their court-ordered sentences.

Wright said the letters essentially asked: "Can I stay the winter?"

"My take on it is the economy is dumping so far that jail isn't looking as bad," Wright said.

Wright said the inmates requesting an extended stay at the Brentwood facility have been denied.

"It's not a homeless shelter. I can only hold people on legal orders from the court," he said.

Hopefully no one will get hurt.

Now THAT is sad.

there needs to be some serious recalibration.

Totally harmless too, unlike other actions I could think of.