MADISON, Wis. -- Dane County taxpayers are going to be footing heavier bills to send inmates to neighboring jails.

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Dane Co. Jail Overcrowding TALKBACK: What To Do About Overcrowding?

The number of inmates being sent out of Dane County has doubled in the last month, as Sheriff Gary Hamblin implements a new safety plan that has drastically changed the look of many cell blocks.

Not only are cell blocks a lot less full, but some who used to be jailed by area probation agents may now stay on the streets.

Until a few weeks ago, inmates were sleeping on the floor in the downtown jail. Now, the sheriff has cleared the floors of the City County Building jail as a new state report confirms what he's been preaching all along.

"That is that there's a high number of special needs inmates, and the facility is dangerous because of the poor site lines," Hamblin said. "The staff (is unable) to get in and monitor inmates on a regular basis."

Last year, there were, on average, 25 to 30 Dane County inmates in Sauk County jail cells, in an effort to alleviate overcrowding.

Now, Dane County's new "clear the floors" policy means 60 to 70 are heading to five different jails, at an estimated yearly cost of $1 million.

"We're just looking to wherever we can find bed space," Hamblin said.

In addition, the sheriff has asked the state to stop sending so many probation violators.

"We told them because of our serious overcrowding -- the dangerous level that exists in Dane County -- to try to find someplace else to house these inmates," Hamblin said.

State Corrections spokesman Art Thurmer said 55 inmates have now been sent to state prisons and probation agents have been asked to try to find means, other than jail, of punishing those who commit minor infractions.

However, Thurmer assures "our goal is public safety ... and if someone broke a rule that presents a risk, we're still locking those folks up."

Meanwhile, the sheriff asserts he not only needs new space but much of what he has at 50 years old is beyond tired.

"The design of that jail is totally inadequate," Hamblin said. "We were talking this morning about how the design of Alcatraz, long ago abandoned by the federal government, but the design of Alcatraz is actually better for monitoring the movement of inmates than the City County Building jail."

The decision to ship more inmates is not only costly to taxpayers, but often a hardship for those whose loved ones are locked up.

Instead of a trip downtown, they must travel to other counties to visit.

TALKBACK: What To Do About Overcrowding?