CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — More than two dozen inmates at the Cleveland County Detention Center have been waiting over 500 days for a trial, highlighting significant delays in the local justice system.
The district attorney told The Shelby Star that the delays are due to court backlogs and a lack of defense attorneys.
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Additionally, the jail is facing overcrowding issues. The sheriff’s office says the facility has a capacity of 324 inmates, with 310 currently housed in the county and an additional 22 inmates being held in other facilities.
The sheriff says overcrowding is a common issue across North Carolina’s detention centers. The Cleveland County Detention Center has faced challenges with inmates sleeping on the floor due to lack of space.
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