Yakima City officials cite staffing shortages, mental-health strains at city jail

Commander Maritza Davis, who oversees the Yakima City Jail, told the City Council at a study session in April 2025 that the 72-bed, male-only facility is operating with roughly half its corrections staff and depends on a contracted block of county beds for some people arrested by Yakima Police Department.

Davis said the jail’s design limits what it can house, that average daily population has been about 40 inmates this year, and that average length of stay has risen to about eight days. “We are working with 50% staff,” she said, noting the department is relying on overtime and help from police officers to keep the facility open.

The shortage has financial and operational consequences. Davis told council members the city pays a fixed block rate to the Yakima County Jail under a contract for additional beds and related medical costs; the city pays for a block of beds whether the beds are filled and pays a per-inmate rate for any beds beyond the block. The city manager and corrections staff described past contract terms that have varied (the transcript records a per-bed figure of $136.48), and said the block arrangements have…