Last updated 2:01PM ET
February 16, 2012
WOUB Local News
WOUB Local News
Kentucky counties test jail initiative
(2009-11-18)
(WOUB) - Boyd and eight other counties in Kentucky will test an initiative that could allow people arrested for hundreds of non-violent crimes to avoid jail.

The Kentucky Supreme Court selected the counties to try the cost-saving initiative for a year to determine if it should be expanded statewide.

Justice Will T. Scott said the move has the potential to save the state some $150 million a year in jail costs by allowing people arrested on any of more than 700 mostly misdemeanor charges to immediately post bail and go home without spending time behind bars unless they're later sentenced to incarceration.

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