KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
Almost 100 Inmates at Kansas City's detention center have been released early since May 2011.
But the deaths of some inmates immediately after their release has judges and city officials forcing changes.
Previously, inmates were released without a judge's approval or knowledge. Instead, a system was used to determine which inmates would be released early because of overcrowding. City administrators made the decisions without consulting the sentencing judges.
Of the 87 released early, many were waiting to get into an in-patient treatment program for drug addiction. And several have died just a few days after their release. One of those was Heather Brown, 32.
"Clearly, if she still had been incarcerated, she wouldn't have been in a risky situation like that," Councilman John Sharp said. "Hopefully she would have been referred to a treatment program where she would have gotten help and changed her behavior."
The hope is to prevent future tragedies by requiring the sentencing judge to sign off on an early release, Sharp said.
Municipal Court Judge Joseph Locascio brought the problem to the council's attention after two inmates he sentenced to jail recently died after being released early.
The council's Public Safety Committee is expected to approve the change Wednesday and the council could consider the measure as soon as Thursday.
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