When elected officials passed the state's prisoner realignment plan, they thought they were solving a problem.  What they failed to realize was that shifting low level offenders to county jails was going to cause another.

At the current time, thousands of female offenders who would have been serving time in state prisons are being held in county jails.  Some of these detainees are serving time for white collar crimes, such as financial fraud.

Others have been convicted of non-violent non-serious offenses, such as property crimes and and lower level drug offenses.

County officials from throughout the state seem to be split when it comes to dealing with these types of inmates.  Some have started to offer split sentences, which allows a sentenced detainee to serve half their time behind bars and the rest on probation.

Others have begun to utilize residential drug treatment programs as an alternative to incarceration.

Los Angeles, however, is reportedly keeping these women locked up for the duration of their term.  Now, they are serving long-term sentences in facilities that were never designed to hold inmates for more than a year.

Many of them said they haven't seen the sun in months.  At state prisons, offenders are permitted to exercise outside in the year.  County jails do not allow that same privilege.

State prisoners are allowed the option of purchasing sneakers.  County jails provide facility issued sandals, which are not well suited for exercise.

At jails, family members visit with inmates through a clear glass partition.  At prisons, detainees are permitted contact visit, and are able to spend more time with their loved ones.

Offenders say that while their current situations are in no way ideal, they are thankful for the educational programs that have been provided by the LA County Sheriff's Department.

Some say it allows them to connect with other women who have found themselves in a very similar situation, in which they are serving years long sentences for one or more bad decisions.

A great number of them have children, were addicted to drugs and have been convicted for property crimes.

Opponents of the realignment said that while the shift has improved medical conditions at state facilities, it's put a great strain on county jails.   They say the previous situation as all but replicated itself on a local level.

Some feel this is stripping inmates of their dignity, because the conditions are so bad.

Inmate advocates feel that more should be done to explore alternatives to incarceration.  Instead of throwing these people behind bars and tossing the key, they said, a better plan involves fining ways to rehabilitate them.

County officials say they are working to make things better, citing plans for a new women's jail at a site in Mira Loma.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said they are evaluating all options.   The department said it recognizes that it hasn't been as successful in dealing with the realignment as other counties, but points out that the LA corrections department is leaps and bounds bigger than its counterparts.

They are, however, continuing to explore programs that provide alternatives to incarceration.  A long-term plan is scheduled to be presented to the County Board of Supervisors next year.