Crowding crisis eases in Broward jails: After a surge earlier this year, Broward's jail population has dipped below full capacity. But public defenders say the numbers are still higher than they.

Byline: Nikki Waller

Dec. 20--The population crunch at Broward's county jails has improved since fall, when some inmates had to sleep on cots in hallways.

The Broward Sheriff's Office, which runs the county jails, credits Broward judges with much of the improvement. But Broward's public defender says the population in local lockups could be even lower if judges set smaller bail amounts for indigent clients.

In September, the county's Public Safety Coordinating Council asked judges to find ways to shorten jail stays and divert defendants elsewhere. Judges have implemented some of those measures, such as giving jailed defendants priority for trial and increasing the use of pretrial release programs.

As of last week, county jails were 93.6 percent full -- still high, but down from August, September and October, when population levels surged over capacity.

"Everyone was aware of the problem," said BSO spokesman Elliot Cohen.

"Everyone's working to tweak what they do a little bit, but the judges are playing the biggest role."