Special Program Could Save Taxpayers Big Dollars

The Yakima County Prosecutor's Office will start a pretrial-release program this year that could save thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Prosecutor Joe Brusic says the program evaluates people being held before their trials begin. They're evaluated to determine if they can be released, especially if they're not being held on serious crimes.

"For those low-level offenders who've been charged with a crime, are there things we can do to allow them to be outside the jail and yet still be coming to court?" Brusic says.

The program could save thousands of dollars and open jail cells for more serious crimes, the prosecutor believes. Brusic and other county officials are traveling to Washington, D.C., this week to learn more about the program that will be funded through a $300, 000 grant from the federal government and matching money from Yakima County.

Brusic hopes to have the program in place at the end of this year.