Thurston County creates jail space crisis work group to pursue short- and long-term options

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4 agreed to form a jail space crisis work group and directed the county manager to convene stakeholders to produce short- and long-term options, including cost estimates. Commissioners appointed Commissioner Menser and Commissioner Rachel Grant to represent the board on the group.

The board acted after Sheriff Sanders told commissioners the jail is operating at or beyond designed capacity and that lack of cell space, combined with an increasing number of people with serious mental-health needs, is creating safety and legal risks. "We are at max capacity to the point where we told patrol deputies, if you don't have to take anyone to jail over the weekend, please don't," Sheriff Sanders said, arguing for an urgent, coordinated response.

The work group will gather stakeholders from county departments and law-and-justice partners, consider options such as a temporary flex unit, renovations, and contracting for bed space, and return at least three options with total cost estimates for infrastructure and ongoing staffing. "What will it cost to build a flex unit and staff it? What would it cost to contract? ... My goal with this work group is to bring back at least three options for the board to consider," the sheriff said.

Board members who spoke said they supported both immediate steps and planning for long-term solutions. Commissioner Rachel Grant urged the group to include behavioral-health partners and recommended considering a consultant or request-for-proposal to study jail capacity, courtroom needs and wraparound services. Commissioner Menser, who has worked on the issue previously, urged a review of options considered in 2019 and earlier work that was paused by the pandemic.

Sheriff Sanders and deputies described how the jail's design and current inmate classification practices are stretched: he said the Charlie unit — a quadrant of celled space for individuals who must be single-housed — has a capacity of "29 double beds" but that many mentally ill people must be single‑housed, reducing usable capacity. He described the E Dorm as an open dorm holding "60 plus inmates," where mixing high-violence and mentally ill populations is creating safety problems and ongoing overtime costs for correctional staff.

County Manager Leonard Hernandez and the sheriff recommended that the work group include county operations staff (IT, central services), law-and-justice stakeholders (prosecutor, corrections leadership), at least one representative from the jail union, and behavioral-health partners. Commissioners asked for a parallel study-session to review prior memos and historical options so new work would build on earlier analysis rather than repeat it.

The board's motion directs the county manager to work with stakeholders to schedule regular work‑group meetings, convene an initial study session to brief commissioners on the history and options, and return recommended options with cost estimates and operational implications. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the motion carried with all commissioners voting in favor.

Next steps: the county manager will coordinate stakeholders, schedule the first work‑group meeting and a study session for commissioners, and request that behavioral‑health and other partners join the effort as early participants.