Douglas County corrections director reports staffing gains, record pretrial savings and rising medical caseload

Michael Myers, director of corrections for Douglas County, briefed the Board of Corrections on July 22 with monthly metrics showing staffing gains, record pretrial-supervision savings and a notable increase in inmates with complex medical and mental-health needs.

Myers reported the department finished the fiscal year $13,733 under budget. Overtime costs for June were $256,508 (about $55,000 less than the previous month). Bond payments processed by the records division totaled $870,000 for the month. Myers said the corrections workforce saw seven departures below the rank of sergeant during June, including one retirement, and that the department was 99% staffed among correctional officer ranks as of June 30.

Population and pretrial figures: the department recorded 1,313 admissions, 1,297 releases, and an average daily population of 1,105 in June (a month-over-month increase of 34). The average length of stay for inmates released in June was 27 days; 52% of inmates remained longer than 72 hours (average 51 days for that group) while 48% were released within 72 hours (average 1.3 days). Myers said the pretrial supervision program and other alternatives saved an estimated 4,633 jail bed days in June, which the department translated to $787,610 in avoided detention costs for the county.

Mental-health and medical care demands: Myers detailed a rise in medically complex cases held in custody. June included multiple hospital admissions, specialty off-site appointments and a high number of inmates placed on suicide precautions (107). The department recorded 214 drug and alcohol detox protocol placements and a total of 27 hospital days for 10 hospital admissions. Myers also reported nine women were pregnant at the same time in custody, including one high-risk pregnancy. He said medical and custody teams coordinated daily on high-risk cases.

Security, compliance and training: the department expects several audits in the coming months—a PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) audit late this year or early next, an NCCHC (National Commission on Correctional Health Care) audit in 2026, and an American Correctional Association review in October or November. The U.S. Marshals Service inspected the facility in June and noted no concerns. Myers said staff are preparing to adopt a new use-of-force protocol called TAP (Tactical Athlete Program), which emphasizes de-escalation and officer wellness; TAP instructor training concluded in June and the first staff classes are scheduled in July.

Operations: community corrections placements included eight individuals from transitional discharge and sanction centers, work release admitted 23 people, house arrest admitted 36, and the Reentry Assistance Program (RAP) admitted 17. The department reported 85 admissions to therapeutic-community housing units and 121 people on the GED waitlist (71 active students). Pretrial services supervised a record 629 participants in the 24/7 sobriety program and 195 via GPS monitoring, which Myers said contributed to the estimated bed-day savings.

Contraband and emergency response: a multi-part response in June intercepted a plot to introduce drugs into the facility, Myers said; details were limited due to an ongoing criminal investigation. The crisis negotiation team deployed 12 times in June and the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) was deployed nine times; most incidents were resolved without physical force and no injuries were reported. Area searches recovered a variety of items including altered headphones and a white powdery substance.

Board discussion: Commissioner Kavanaugh praised the report and noted the importance of the pretrial savings metric, calling the estimated $787,610 in avoided detention costs an “important metric” for expanding diversion and pretrial programs. Commissioner Borgeson asked for further detail about what led to several older adults with complex medical needs entering custody and asked staff to monitor the trend of an aging inmate population; Myers said the department has begun informal planning to consider specialized units for older or medically complex detainees once space (including a planned mental-health addition) is available.

Myers closed by thanking medical and custody teams for coordinating dozens of complex cases and said staff would provide follow-up information to commissioners on selected individuals and trends.

Ending: The board accepted the report and, after concluding business, recessed the corrections meeting and reconvened as the board of commissioners to consider other agenda items.