La Crosse County working on ways to keep bail-jumpers out of jail

The jail population in La Crosse County this spring has been a little higher than it was earlier in the year.

Some of the increase can be blamed on bail-jumping, with many prisoners going back to jail shortly after being released.

The county is looking into the problem, and studying ways to cut down on bail jumpers filling the jail.

“Often times, people that commit bail jumpings will automatically be taken to jail because they’re violating their bond,” District Attorney Tim Gruenke said, “but there’s some circumstances where the police weren’t really called for that reason and they find people almost by accident.”

Gruenke added that police may be given more discretion to refer bail-jumping suspects to other programs, so they won’t have to return to jail.