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Cole County officials discuss jail overcrowding, out-of-county housing costs and potential expansion
Summary
County leaders reviewed rising out-of-county inmate housing costs, existing bed capacity, staffing shortfalls and financing options for a jail build-out, and directed staff to gather cost estimates and consultant advice.
Cole County officials on Aug. 19 discussed rising costs to house county inmates out of county, ongoing jail capacity and staffing constraints, and options to finance a proposed expansion of the county jail.
The discussion opened after commissioners were told the county has spent about $297,000 through July 31 on housing county inmates in other facilities; the office had budgeted $450,000 for the year and, if current trends continue, the annualized cost would approach $510,000. County staff reported 21 inmates were currently housed in other facilities and that the county’s jail routinely carries additional population on pretrial holds, averaging about 180 individuals at times.
The cost conversation focused on two drivers: the number of prisoner days sent to other facilities and the per‑day rates charged by receiving counties. Speakers said Cole County receives roughly $22.50 per day from the Missouri Department of Corrections when a local inmate’s state sentence is credited, while the state reported a per‑day operational cost of about $103. County…
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