Corrections director outlines $1.3M jail medical increase, cuts to other line items and new inmate tracking wristbands

Cowlitz County Director of Corrections (name not fully specified in the transcript) presented the department’s proposed budget changes and operational updates to the Board of County Commissioners, saying the overall jail budget shows about a $1,300,000 increase largely driven by higher inmate medical costs.

The director said the department reduced several line items where possible, including a $50,000 decrease in the food budget and a $50,000 decrease in pharmaceuticals, plus smaller reductions in tools and professional services. "I included anything that was 5,000 or over," the director said while describing line‑item changes. At the same time, jail medical expenses rose significantly and account for the bulk of the overall increase.

Operational changes and revenue: The department added condominium association dues of roughly $3,200 a month to its budget after vacating prior rental space, but officials said total occupancy and other efficiencies still yield net savings compared with prior rent levels. The department is rolling out an online background and recruiting system (a dues/subscription cost cited by the director) to improve hiring; the director called it a recruiting tool that will make background checks easier and faster.

The director also discussed vendor options for inmate medical services and described the difference between a large national bidder and a smaller company (named in the meeting as NAVCARE), which the director said was more hands‑on. "NAVCARE's bid was closer to 5,000,000," the director said, noting the smaller company had no successful claims against it in historical review but was still more expensive than the department’s prior arrangement.

Technology and safety: The jail has started using wristband ID bracelets with barcode scanning for inmate tracking and will pilot biometric cell sensors in intake cells if risk‑pool reimbursement covers initial costs. "Now all the inmates have ID bracelets on, so we can keep track of things... and it also replaces our inmate cell check system," the director said. The director described the biometric sensors as mounted in cells to alert if an inmate's vitals are becoming dangerous; the risk pool may reimburse part of that purchase and the director estimated an initial package covering six cells could cost about $25,000 with modest annual maintenance costs.

ICE detainers and legal limits: Commissioners asked whether the jail accepts ICE referrals. The director said Washington state law generally disallows holding people on administrative ICE detainers unless the hold is signed by a judge or magistrate; the jail records detainers in files but does not hold people solely for ICE without a lawful bookable charge.

Revenue changes: The department reported revenue increases from booking fees, increased bookings for partner cities (Kelso, Woodland, Longview), and pending daily‑rate contract changes with cities that would raise the per‑inmate daily rate by about $12. The director said the department did not include those pending city contracts in the current budget numbers because the contracts were not signed yet.

Ending: The director said the department trimmed two positions during COVID and has not restored them, described the vacant work‑crew officer position that will remain unfilled for now, and noted a roughly $400,000 state reimbursement for MAT/MOUD services that offsets part of the medical contract increase. The board had no further presentations and moved to an executive session on contract negotiations after the report.