Board discusses contracting for guaranteed juvenile-detention bed with Scott County as costs rise

The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors on April 21 heard a staff briefing on juvenile-detention options and whether to contract for a guaranteed bed at Scott County's facility as the county adjusts to state rules that bar juveniles from being held in the local jail.

County Attorney Jim Berry summarized the issue: changes to federal/state rules implemented in 2021 prohibit holding juveniles in the county jail in sight-and-sound contact with adult inmates; counties must instead locate placements at juvenile-detention centers. Scott County is expanding capacity and offering guaranteed bed reservations; the quoted daily guarantee rate discussed was approximately $285 per day. "Some of the counties... are looking for people to commit to a bed... that's charged every day... I think Scott County is up to about $285," Berry said.

Staff provided a five-year summary of Muscatine County's past detention expenditures and noted costs vary widely by facility and time. The board discussed whether the county should purchase capacity (a fixed-cost approach that can ensure availability) or continue arranging beds as needed (an a-la-carte approach that risks no guaranteed availability and potentially higher per-diem costs and longer transports). One bed under the Scott County proposal was discussed in the ballpark of a roughly $104,000 annual commitment, depending on contract terms.

Supervisors asked staff to investigate contract terms — including whether the county would receive credit for an unused reserved bed, how priority is handled when multiple counties need beds, and whether buying capacity could reduce per-diem rates — and to invite Scott County or other detention providers to present more detailed terms if appropriate. No formal contract was approved; the board asked staff and the sheriff's office to return with negotiation details and cost breakdowns.