Book 'em (electronically), Danno!

A cop tells the Post how the city plans to handle mass arrests during the DNC:

The Denver Sheriff Department is preparing to handle up to 3,000 arrests during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the director of corrections said Thursday. . . .

Can they possibly mean "up to" 3000 total arrests, over the five or six days that protests and demos are scheduled? That seems optimistic, but maybe Spagz has worked his, uh, charisma, on me.

[Undersheriff in charge of jails Bill] Lovingier said that in order to create holding space, an unspecified number of county jail inmates will be moved to jails in neighboring jurisdictions and city jail inmates will be transferred to the county jail.

Lousy screws.

"We anticipate most of the people will bond out quickly," Lovingier said. "We don't anticipate holding for any large period of time."

In addition, the county courts are clearing their normal schedule for convention week and are setting up an additional courtroom to handle arraignments for those who can't bond out, according to Andrew Armatas, the presiding judge.

The ACLU's Mark Silverstein said this week that he is concerned that the Denver Police Department's departure from simply issuing citations to protesters who commit misdemeanor offenses to full arrests means that Denver "could be headed for a very disastrous and catastrophic situation."

Not just a disastrous and catastrophic situation, mind you, but a very disastrous and catastrophic situation.

Silverstein last month filed a claim against the city for monetary damages because of its handling of 83 protesters arrested at the Columbus Day parade in October. At least 40 of them were held for hours at the jail before being allowed to post bond and were held hours longer before being released.

Wonder what's going on with those protesters' trials? Haven't heard a thing since Glenn Morris and a couple other anti-C-Day loutshouters (h/t jwp) were convicted in January.

Lovingier said the delays were a result of the extra strain so many arrests placed on the system.

"The system is designed for five to seven people an hour," he said. "Now you've got 80 people all at once. I say that the decision to arrest and not summons was significant."

Now, the Sheriff Department is preparing to set up six to eight satellite booking centers outside the three available at the city jail, Lovingier said.

Also, police during the convention will be able to electronically send citations to jailers at the time of arrests. Currently, jailers don't get officers' paperwork until they come in from the field.

Denver police are adding staff to speed the checks for outstanding warrants among those who are arrested.

We're all for bureaucratic efficiency around here. You won't believe this:

Silverstein said Thursday that he remained skeptical.

"It's very good that the city is recognizing that the current system could not handle mass arrests," he said, adding that he still thinks "for minor violations, . . . police should issue a summons rather than a full custodial arrest."

Issuing citations avoids several risks, Silverstein said. Full arrests allow for too many unforeseen factors — such as hot days, long waits on paddy wagons and complications in accessing medication — that could conspire to create lengthy and even dangerous delays, he said.

Wipe the drool off your chin, Silverstein.