County work center takes inmates to ease jail crowding; facility reports modest population rise by design

William Cope, superintendent of the Correctional Work Center, told the Public Safety Committee the facility's population has risen slightly "by design" to help relieve pressure at the county jail. Cope said the work center has 320 total beds by classification, but daily population is typically around 150'160 when accounting for program space and classification rules. Cope explained the center has accepted certain inmates from the sheriff's office to provide relief at the main jail, sometimes using administrative "overrides" for individuals with older aggravated charges who meet behavioral and classification criteria. He said about 40% of transferred people are being "overridden" under that policy; those inmates are placed in classifications that restrict outside access and do not necessarily qualify for off-site work details. The work center reported using offender labor for county projects, recording combined savings of $68,728 from offender labor and providing a variety of programs that include food service and grounds maintenance. Cope said some offenders work on highways or in work release classifications when eligible; other inmates work inside the facility. The committee approved the work center monthly report by voice vote.