County staff seek four‑year contract for law‑enforcement psychological exams; DOC housing renewal discussed

Sheriff’s office staff asked the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners on June 3 to approve two contracts: a four‑year agreement with a contracted psychologist who performs mandatory psychological evaluations for firearms‑qualified staff, and a renewal of an intergovernmental housing contract with the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC).

County presenters said the psychologist contract would run up to four years with a total not to exceed $140,000 and an annual cap of $35,000, reflecting an ongoing $700 per evaluation rate. “The RCW lays out who is required to do this, and the Washington administrative code lays out what questions that Dr. Sauer is mandated to ask during that evaluation,” a sheriff’s office staff member said, explaining the legal basis for the required examinations.

Sheriff’s office staff said the psychological exams are required under 2021 state police‑reform changes and that the county has performed multiple evaluations in recent years; they estimated as many as 20–24 additional exams could be needed in 2025 depending on hiring. County staff described the psychologist as a longstanding provider with “30 plus years” in practice who holds law‑enforcement and corrections certifications.

On the DOC housing renewal, staff explained the county has amended the intergovernmental agreement repeatedly since 2021 and has been seeking the maximum annual increases allowed. The daily rate paid by DOC has risen from about $89 a day in 2020 to about $125 by the end of the renewed contract, staff said. The county also described enhanced per‑day rates for medical, mental‑health and acute mental‑health care. Staff noted the county limits DOC and U.S. Marshals placements to one housing module and no more than 14 inmates; current counts were described as nine inmates in custody at the county facility on the day of the briefing.

Commissioners pressed staff on cost recovery. A county presenter said, “We are not covering our costs with Department of Corrections,” and described efforts to push for higher rates so the county can approach full cost recovery, especially for medical expenses that fall to the county when inmates require hospital care. County staff said DOC and the U.S. Marshals are helpful because when an admitted inmate is guarded in hospital custody those agencies assume guard duties within about 12 hours.

Staff also said the county has shortened notice/termination provisions in recent DOC and U.S. Marshals contracts to preserve flexibility for managing overcrowding, citing prior terms that were longer (90–180 days discussed). Commissioners asked for clarification on termination notice lengths and for cost‑recovery analysis; staff said they would provide additional details.

No formal vote or motion on either contract was recorded in the briefing transcript. Staff presented the contracts for board consideration and questions; staff requested authority to execute the psychologist agreement and to continue negotiations/renewal with DOC.

The county flagged revenue impacts: historical revenue from housed inmates exceeded $1 million per year but the county now projects roughly $700,000 due to lower placements. Commissioners noted space and operational constraints affect placements and revenue.

County staff said they will provide further cost‑recovery analysis and specific contract termination/notice language back to the board before final action.

Ending — The board discussed both contracts at the briefing and requested follow‑up: additional information on termination provisions and cost‑recovery analysis for the DOC housing renewal, and standard review and approval steps before the county executes the psychologist contract.