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Potter County faces overcrowded jail; commissioners plan further study and to consider hiring neutral reviewer
Summary
Sheriff reported 621 inmates and outside placements; commissioners discussed options including a neutral study led by John Keel and agreed to put the matter on a future agenda for funding and potential solutions.
County officials told Potter County Commissioners the jail is overcrowded, with 621 inmates reported during the meeting and 39 housed in other jurisdictions. Sheriff’s figures showed 91 female inmates and county staff reported approximately 83 percent of the population were felons and about 10 percent misdemeanants.
The court discussed logistics and maintenance complications from the crowded conditions, including the need to empty cells to replace showers and paint. The sheriff said doing that work will require moving inmates elsewhere for roughly two weeks per cell block, creating additional housing costs.
Commissioners discussed options including keeping inmates close in Randall County for logistical reasons and the limits of available bed space statewide. One commissioner recommended bringing in a neutral party to lead a study of options; John Keel was named as someone asked to serve and said he would, but commissioners noted the county must decide how to fund any outside review and that formal action to pay a consultant would require a future agenda item and vote.
No formal action was taken on jail construction or contracting during the meeting. The court agreed to place the issue on a future agenda for a neutral review, with a proposal to present potential options and funding mechanisms.
