As Carlile says, there's no point in overfilling crowded jails, expensive too.

It's a fine example for other cities with crowded jails.

The judge had placed restrictions on the number of inmates that the city could keep in the crowded jail.

But Mayor Koch also has designs on the building to help relieve the city's crowded jails.

Those figures have powerful implications for the city's problems with crowded jails and overburdened courts.

The drug court puts low-level felons who abuse drugs or alcohol through intensive monitoring and counseling instead of sending them to crowded jails.

"The bottom line, the lesson to be learned in this situation," she said, "is don't shout in a crowded jail, which is what they did."

The rest, like Mr. Manuel, sit in crowded Mexican jails and count the seconds.

The prisoners are not compelled to work, but several interviewed here said they welcomed the chance to get out of the crowded jail, at least during the day.

Thousands more Hutu, who could not flee, have languished in crowded jails.