County sheriff warns jail capacity, out‑of‑county costs rise as DOC shifts placements

Sheriff Glenn Denning said the county jail held 78 people the morning of the meeting and that out‑of‑county placements and residential facility wait lists are becoming a growing operational and budget challenge. "Jail's at 78 this morning," Denning said. He reported nine out‑of‑county inmates, two awaiting extradition and one transferred to state prison. "So that's $250 for that 5 everyday there. Everyday. Everyday, $250," Denning said when discussing per‑day costs tied to some placements.

The concern stems in part from how the state is steering placements. County Attorney Grant explained that recent changes moved placement responsibility to the Department of Corrections rather than the judicial district and that judges are now listing placements more generically. "...since it's all through the Department of Corrections and not specifically through the judicial district ... most of the judges are are willing to do that. They're putting down just regional correctional facility," Grant said, describing how that practice has led to placements in facilities farther from the county, including Des Moines for some female inmates.

Why it matters: the combination of full local beds, wait lists for residential facilities, and higher out‑of‑county rates is increasing the county's expenditures and logistical burden. Denning said the county now pays higher daily rates for housing inmates outside the facility, noting that the county "don't pay $50 anymore. We pay $60 a minimum, and then we pay $80 for, max security inmates." He added that legislative changes would be needed for the county to recoup those costs from the state, but he expressed skepticism about that happening in the current fiscal climate.

Discussion versus action: the exchange was reported as informational; there was no ordinance or motion recorded on the transcript directing staff to act. Officials described operational impacts and policy shifts at the state level that affect local capacity and costs.

Details and context: Denning said five people were on wait lists with residential facilities, and Grant said the state is trying to move placements more quickly by listing regional facilities rather than naming a specific local facility. The county remains one of several jurisdictions competing for limited residential beds and parole re‑entry slots. Denning and Grant framed the issue as dependent on state budgeting and DOC procedures rather than a discrete local policy change.

Next steps/uncertainty: no formal follow‑up motion was recorded in the transcript. Officials characterized solution options as largely contingent on state actions and funding decisions.