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Sheriff To Disband Court Unit

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: March 21, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - In yet another cost-cutting move, Pasco Sheriff Bob White said he will disband the Pasco Detention Pretrial Services Unit to free up four full-time employees for redeployment as "front-line deputies."

"We just don't have the manpower to do that anymore," the sheriff said in making Friday's announcement, which means his agency will no longer supervise people released on their own recognizance to await a court date.

At a first appearance before a judge, select defendants are released without having to post bail - cash or property pledged to guarantee his or her return to court on a scheduled date. Defendants who have ties to the community and do not pose a flight risk are often among those most often released on their own recognizance, White said.

At this time, the sheriff's office supervises about 600 defendants released on their own recognizance, but the caseload has sometimes been twice that, White said. Although most of the individuals are facing felony charges, "sometimes you find yourself supervising" those charged with misdemeanors, he said.

"This system has been in place here for decades," the sheriff said. Of Florida's 67 counties, 29 have such supervision programs. Hillsborough County does not, and Pinellas recently scaled back its program for such defendants, officials said.

In Pasco, supervision by the unit includes visits to the home or workplace of a defendant to ensure they are complying with conditions tied to release without bail. "We can no longer continue to afford these programs that don't put deputies on the front lines," White said.

All four members of the unit to be disbanded are full-time employees and certified law enforcement officers. They will be reassigned to other units where the need is greater, including road patrol or warrants, White said. The warrant unit receives 400 to 500 warrants weekly.

Supervision will continue until a date to be determined, but no later than May 1, White said.

Judges may continue to release defendants on their own recognizance.

In most cases, bail is set and many defendants enlist the services of a bail bond agency. Those agencies do a good job of ensuring clients remain available for trial and honor court dates, White said.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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