NINETEEN YEARS AFTER A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT WAS FILED OVER CONDITIONS AT THE BERNALILLO COUNTY JAIL, COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE CASE TO TRIAL. COMMISSIONER MAGGIE HART STEBBINS TELLS 770 KKOB THE QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN, ARE JAIL CONDITIONS CONSTITUTIONAL. SHE SAYS THEY COULDN'T SAY THAT 19 YEARS AGO, BUT SINCE THEN, PROBLEMS AT THE JAIL HAVE BEEN SOLVED AND IT'S NOW A CONSTITUTIONAL JAIL.
HART-STEBBINS SAYS IT'S CLEAR THE COUNTY WON'T BE ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PLAINTIFFS. SHE SAYS THE CASE IS COSTING THE COUNTY A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN LEGAL FEES.
