Mr. Caldwell said he reviewed 10 similar-sized counties and found that although Union County has a lower crime rate, it sends more people to prison, has a 71 percent lower jail capacity and uses probation and parole more frequently.

Warden Douglas E. Shaffer said he’s not surprised by the statistics, but Mr. Lizardi questioned the numbers that showed a large disparity in serious crime during 2006 between Union and Snyder counties.

Mr. Caldwell’s report showed there were 297 serious offenses in Union County compared with 784 serious offenses in Snyder County in 2006.

“I know we had more in 2006 and Snyder County was lower,” Mr. Lizardi said.

Although Snyder and Northumberland counties are also struggling with inmate overcrowding in their jails, Mr. Caldwell said it’s not a rampant problem across the nation.

And while there has been some talk of a regional jail, Mr. Caldwell doesn’t favor the idea.

“Very few work,” he said, citing jurisdictional problems that often arise between county officials.

Mr. Caldwell will provide the board a written report in a few weeks, but he said the group should immediately begin working on a vision for housing and treating offenders and use local resources to help frame the discussion and develop a plan.

Mr. Haas said it will take two to three years to study a new jail proposal and about five years to implement.

n E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com