Late-night released inmates are often stranded without rides

One one hand, they're excited to be out of jail.  On the other, it's dark, it's late, the buses aren't running and they're miles away from town.

Anyone who is familiar with the Santa Barbara Jail will tell you it's relatively secluded, and the problem is that the jail is required to release inmates once their sentence is up.

If that's at 1 o'clock in the morning, so be it.

Approximate nine detainees are released each night between 11 p.m. and sunrise, according to a grand jury report, and inmates aren't being told they can remain in the jail lobby until morning if they don't have a ride.

In the past, the county had an angel-investor funded free cab program, which provided free rides for insolvent released inmates into town.  Continued funding for that program, according to the report, is questionable at best.

The next best fix comes from an inmate advocate group called Lights On, which has started to set up an RV outside the jail.

They provide released inmates access to warmth, food and coffee and cell phone access until public transportation starts running again in the morning.

Jail says they're "working on it"

Corrections officials say they've been long aware of the problem and have been trying to find ways to cut down the number of late-night releases.

They've even gone so far as to petition the court to change the language of the release paperwork in such a way that allows it to better align with public transportation schedules.

If those terms are modified, they said, that could be the fix they're looking for.

Some inmate family members support the measure, pointing out they've often waited in the jail parking lot long after dark to pick up drug-addicted or mentally ill relatives.

Inmates who don't have friends or family nearby are often left to their own devices, they said, which is nothing short of cruel.

The sheriff's department has reportedly said they'll continue to work with faith-based groups to come up with a better strategy, but for now, the grand jury has recommended the department will come up with its own version of the Lights On program.