How was the Size of the Proposed New Jail Determined?

National best practice recommends that jails should operate at 85% capacity to allow for separating incompatible groups of offenders that don't get along.  Currently the jail consistently operates either at absolute capacity or over capacity.  The existing jail was originally built to hold 148 offenders.  With some limited remodeling, the operational capacity of the main jail should be 212.  The absolute capacity of the Work Center is 150 beds and the operational capacity is about 127, depending on the offender mix.  The combined operational capacity is 339.  The maximum reported occupancy of the existing jail over the last two years occurred on May 11th, 2015.  It was reported that a total of 389 offenders were under supervision.  Of the total number of offenders 253 were in the main jail, 94 were housed at the work center and 29 were monitored on Electronic Home Detention.   

A facility with 440 regular beds and 36 health facility beds is intended to house about 404 inmates (374 regular inmates and 30 inmates with medical issues).  This means that if the 476 bed facility is operated at 85% it will have a design capacity that is 19% (404/339) larger than our current facilities. 

Working in coordination with all Cities, the County crafted a Jail Facility Financing and Use Agreement (JFFUA) which was approved by all of the city and county councils in June and July of 2017.  

The JFFUA sets the housing size at 440 regular beds, +/- 3%, with 36 medical/behavioral health beds.   

Show All Answers

1. What is the Definition of Jail Overcrowding and What are the Impacts?
2. How was the Size of the Proposed New Jail Determined?
3. Where Will the Proposed New Jail be Located?
4. What is the Cost of the Proposed Facility?
5. How will the Public Safety Tax Revenue be Used?
6. What Financial Commitments Were Made for Alternatives?