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Sheriff says Cochise County jail is no longer operational, urges public to weigh in on replacement plan
Summary
Sheriff Mark Daniels told KWCD he has completed community meetings on a jail district proposal, called the current facility 'no longer operational' and asked residents who oppose funding to propose alternatives.
Sheriff Mark Daniels said county meetings about a proposed jail district concluded this week and reiterated his assessment that the county jail is no longer fit for purpose.
"The jail is no longer operational," Daniels said on KWCD. He told listeners the facility is “no longer up to industry standards” and that it will not remain functional for many more years without significant investment.
Daniels said he feels confident the jail-district measure will pass but acknowledged opposition. "If you're gonna say no, help us," he said, asking critics to propose practical alternatives for housing inmates and maintaining jail operations.
The sheriff said he had held a makeup meeting in Benson and described turnout as good. He encouraged residents with further questions to contact the sheriff’s office and to tour the jail, saying staff would try to accommodate such requests.
Daniels framed the vote as an efficiency and public-safety question: the jail’s condition affects local detention capacity and interagency operations. He did not provide bond amounts, a ballot language summary, or specific timelines for construction or replacement during the broadcast.
The sheriff asked listeners who support the proposal to assist with outreach and thanked citizens who had already participated in the meetings.
