question for the flist

[ljgeoff]

So, over the last four years, the city of Detroit has released hundreds of people who were suspected of committing crimes such as child abuse, rape and even murder because they didn't have enough legal staff to sign the warrants. Story here

Has this ever happened before in the US? Outside of say, during the Civil War or in the Old West? I mean, I suspect that it happens every once in a while, but to this extent?