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Polk County approves interlocal inmate‑housing agreement, adopts ICE MOA; sheriff warns of rising jail population and staffing shortfall
Summary
Polk County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement to house inmates in Beauregard Parish at $60 per inmate per day and approved a memorandum of agreement with ICE to allow certified officers to serve immigration detainers. Sheriff and commissioners discussed rising jail population, staffing shortages and transportation logistics.
Polk County Commissioners Court voted April 22 to approve an interlocal agreement with Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, to house county inmates at a daily rate of $60 per inmate and separately approved a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that establishes a local certification process to serve ICE detainers on individuals already in county custody.
Sheriff outlined why the agreements were needed, saying the county’s jail population has been increasing and that the sheriff’s office has been handling more bookings and transports. The sheriff told the court the department has relied on outside housing in recent years and that the Beauregard Parish option reduces travel time compared with more distant facilities.
Why it matters: County officials said no 2025 budget line specifically covers outside housing; historically, the court has authorized use of unused jail salary lines to pay housing costs. Approving the interlocal agreement gives the sheriff a nearer, lower‑cost housing option as the jail faces staffing and capacity pressures.
Details and context
The interlocal agreement with Beauregard Parish sets a daily rate of $60 per inmate, according to the sheriff’s presentation. County officials said transport remains the county’s responsibility; the chosen facility is roughly two and a half hours away by road, according to the sheriff.
On the ICE memorandum of agreement, the sheriff described the program as a certification model rather than an expansion of county enforcement. "This is not where Polk County is going out and actually detaining anyone," the sheriff said, explaining that certified local officers would serve detainers for people already in custody; ICE would be responsible for pickup, generally within a few days. The county’s legal review found the agreement acceptable, county officials reported.
Court discussion and budget implications
Court members noted the county did not budget funds specifically for out‑of‑county housing in the 2025 budget. Officials said the county has typically paid housing costs from unused jail salary lines and that sufficient funds exist to proceed.
Commissioners and the sheriff also discussed staffing shortages at the jail. The sheriff said the facility can house up to 362 inmates but that operational staffing limits currently reduce the practical maximum; the jail reported being short roughly 17 positions, and the sheriff described nightly intake volumes that have increased compared with prior years. Commissioners discussed contingency planning and directed staff to finalize the interlocal contract, coordinate transport logistics and report back on housing utilization.
What’s next
The sheriff will finalize contract signatures and transport logistics; finance staff will confirm funding sources for housing costs. The court asked for follow‑up updates on usage of the Beauregard Parish facility and for periodic reporting on detainer processing under the ICE MOA.
Ending
County officials said the two agreements are intended to relieve immediate operational pressure on the jail while the sheriff’s office and the court pursue longer‑term staffing and capacity strategies.
