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Wapello County approves Samuel Group study to examine jail overcrowding and outsourcing costs
Summary
The board authorized a 20–25-year operational study by Samuel Group to review options after officials reported rising inmate outsourcing and related costs approaching $1 million annually.
Wapello County supervisors voted to authorize an operational study by Samuel Group to examine the county jail’s capacity, outsourcing practices and long-range options.
The study, which the board approved by motion, will analyze options for the next 20 to 25 years to address inmate overcrowding and curb costs associated with sending inmates to other facilities.
The board’s discussion noted that the county is paying an average of about $50 to $70 per outsourced inmate per day and currently has roughly 42 inmates “farmed out,” with an in-jail population of about 90 on the morning referenced in the meeting. At the present rate, county officials said outsourcing costs could approach $1 million for the year; that estimate excludes salaries, transportation and overtime associated with transfers and court appearances.
A county staff member described the study as a long-term planning tool the county will own and be able to use for future decision-making. The staff member said the figure for average daily outsourcing cost was about $65 and that the county has been as high as 52 outsourced inmates in 2025.
A supervisor moved to approve the study; another supervisor seconded, and the motion passed with verbal approval recorded as “Aye.” The motion did not include a named vote tally in the transcript.
Why it matters: Board members framed the study as an attempt to identify structural solutions to recurring overcrowding and the financial burden of sending inmates elsewhere. The meeting record shows the county is already incurring substantial direct costs and expects additional labor and transport costs beyond the outsourcing invoices.
The board did not set a contract dollar amount for the Samuel Group work on the transcript excerpt, and the timeline for delivery of a final report was not specified.
Looking ahead: The county will receive the completed study for use in future planning; any capital decisions or policy changes that result from the study would require further board action.
