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County debate sharpens over jail renovation, swing space and cost of relocating inmates
Summary
Commissioners and public safety officials debated whether to proceed with a $9–46 million renovation plan, build a 64-bed swing-space addition, or pursue a longer-term new facility. Officials warned relocation of inmates during renovation could cost $4–6 million; sheriff and jail leadership urged adding swing space to avoid repeated inmate moves.
A contentious discussion about the county adult detention facility dominated the work session as commissioners, the sheriff's office and jail staff weighed options including an in-place renovation, construction of a temporary "swing" 64-bed addition, or planning for a new facility.
Sheriff's office leadership and jail captains joined county staff to describe operational risks and costs tied to renovating the existing 1980s-era jail. Jail officials said much of the facility's maintenance and life-safety systems require work and that carrying out a comprehensive security and HVAC upgrade will require relocating inmates for prolonged periods. The sheriff's office estimated relocation costs could be “very, very expensive” and cited a figure in the meeting of about $4,600,000 to $6,000,000 for renting beds or other out-of-county housing for inmates during a lengthy renovation. Captain Merrick, who has worked in corrections for decades, emphasized the practical difficulty of moving and managing large numbers of inmates away from the county, noting classification and transport complexity.
The county's project manager said design of the renovation was about 70% complete and that incremental upgrades already completed include ballistic glass, hardened shower areas and recreation-area improvements. Staff said some elements of the security and HVAC package remain, and that partial work already completed reduced but did not eliminate the need for temporary inmate relocation.
Commissioner O'Connor and other commissioners urged caution about building a new wing that could later be judged insufficient compared with a purpose-built replacement facility. Several commissioners said the county had deferred jail planning and that costs increase when projects are delayed. Others argued that spending on an addition that serves as swing space during renovation could ultimately be a better value than continuing to pay for off-site inmate housing and the operational friction of moving prisoners in and out repeatedly.
Staff outlined three cost components related to the renovation choice: (1) the capital cost to renovate or add a wing; (2) the operating cost or per-diem expense of relocating inmates during construction; and (3) the long-term programmatic need for additional beds, female segregation and medical space. Jail leadership said female inmate numbers had risen and that the facility lacks adequate segregated and medical space under current operations.
County staff and commissioners also discussed the possibility of state reimbursement. A county staff member said Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) may offer partial reimbursement for renovation or expansion projects under certain programs; staff agreed to open a formal inquiry and to provide contacts and documentation the sheriff's office had already shared with the state.
Why this matters: the board must decide whether to proceed with an in-place upgrade that requires costly relocation of inmates, construct temporary swing space first, or accelerate planning for a new facility. Each path carries large capital and operating consequences and different timelines for addressing immediate safety and programmatic issues.
Next steps: commissioners asked staff to (a) seek a formal determination from DPSCS on possible state reimbursement for renovation or new construction; (b) continue to refine cost estimates for relocation and swing-space options; and (c) provide an updated schedule and funding plan before final CIP adoption.
