Evacuated inmates to be returned to Keys

After being evacuated because of Hurricane Irma, hundreds of jail inmates from the Florida Keys may soon be returned to the islands. First order of business: court hearings to help clear the jail of inmates facing petty crimes, such as drinking in public.

If those hearing go through as planned early next week, it’ll give court staff, lawyers and judges some seven days to regroup amid widespread electricity outages, lack of cell phone coverage and clean-up efforts. “For humanitarian reasons, we want to get this going as soon as possible. There are people in custody whose sentences could be up,” said Key West Public Defender Robert Longwood. Getting Monroe County’s criminal-justice system back in action remains a daunting logistical challenge on an island chain spread out over 110 miles – and with one major road clogged with clean-up crews, returning residents and relief workers.

As Hurricane Irma bore down on the Keys, 466 inmates were evacuated from Monroe jails, including the main detention center on Stock Island. The storm came ashore on Cudjoe Key on Sept 10, battering the island chain and wrecking boats, homes and businesses throughout Monroe County.

For people arrested after the storm, there have been some initial court hearings held via phone from the main jail.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office hopes to have them returned by the weekend, if the jails have power, sewer, water and food ready to go.