Consultants tell Geary County jail needs 175 beds by mid-century; urge coordinating council to manage case processing

Justice Planners consultants told the Geary County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday that the county's aging detention center is functionally outdated and that, under a status-quo forecast, the county will need roughly 175 beds to safely house the expected inmate population by 2050.

The consultants, Alan Richardson and Patrick Chablonski of Justice Planners, said the firm's modeling projects an average daily population (ADP) of about 139 by 2050 and translated that into a bed requirement of 175 after adding operational-classification margins and peak-day factors. "The bottom line for 2030, average daily population is modeled to be 101. The total bed need will be 127," Richardson said during the presentation.

Why it matters: Commissioners and the sheriff discussed immediate repairs at the existing facility and longer-term capital planning. Consultants warned that incremental repairs expose the county to legal and safety risks and that the most cost-effective approach depends on whether the county can lower average length of stay or change booking volume.

Key findings and context

Justice Planners summarized on-site observation and three years of operational data. The firm found the current facility is a multi‑story building dating to the 1950s with extensive water leaks, poor sight lines and a kitchen on the third floor. Consultants reported the county spent more than $300,000 on jail maintenance last year for items such as an elevator and HVAC repairs.

Richardson said the facility's design creates blind spots that complicate supervision and raise safety and liability concerns. The sheriff told commissioners the jail's average daily population in a recent two‑week window was about 109.5.

On projections, Chablonski said the jail population is driven by two variables: bookings (how many people enter the jail) and average length of stay (how long they remain). The consultants found bookings fell after the COVID‑19 peak and remained below pre‑pandemic levels, while average length of stay has generally increased. "If your average length of stay had been what it was a year ago, the population would drop by 10 people, independent of what your bookings count looks like," Chablonski said.

Projected facility size and alternatives

The consultants presented a status‑quo forecast (bookings and case processing unchanged) that produces: an ADP of 139 by 2050 and a recommended bed count of 175 after adding a 15% classification/operational buffer and gender‑specific peaking factors (about 17.4% for females and 8.7% for males).

They also modeled alternative outcomes. For example, if average length of stay could be reduced (to about 14.3 days in one scenario), the 2050 bed need would fall to roughly 144. If bookings remain lower (for example 7 per day instead of 8), the bed need at the central forecast would drop by about 27 beds.

Costs, near-term fixes and legal risk

Sheriff and consultants discussed midterm remedies versus new construction. The sheriff said the county had received estimates of roughly $700,000 to install intercoms and camera systems to address blind spots; he warned the county lacks the money now but noted that failing to act risks litigation. Consultants noted American Correctional Association standards and the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) inform design and could be used by litigants to argue inadequate conditions.

The sheriff also raised staffing and equipment costs tied to weapon replacement cycles, noting a CIP allocation of roughly $72,000 for replacement weapons and a quoted alternative of about $35,000 if the county switched to Glocks as a cost‑saving measure.

Recommendations and follow up

Justice Planners recommended the county: (1) form a criminal‑justice coordinating council that includes the sheriff, county attorney, public defender, probation and court leadership to monitor case processing and seek operational changes that reduce average length of stay; (2) weigh a midterm investment in cameras/intercoms and other remediation that could transfer to a future new facility; and (3) use the written report the firm will deliver as a basis for a facility master plan and budgeting discussion. "The best way to predict the future is to create it," Chablonski said, urging active policy steps to reduce demand.

Ending: The consultants said a full written report will be delivered to the county with detailed tables and scenarios. Commissioners asked for time to review the report and indicated they would invite local justice stakeholders to begin coordinating around case processing and options for facility planning.

Quotes (selected)

"The design is not a modern design now ... it's presenting some considerable challenges to operations, staffing, safety and security," Alan Richardson, Justice Planners.

"If your average length of stay had been what it was a year ago, the population would drop by 10 people," Patrick Chablonski, Justice Planners.

"Not having money is not an excuse on not getting sued," the sheriff said, noting the county must address safety and observation gaps now or risk larger liabilities later.

Ending note: Commissioners asked staff to circulate the consultants' full written report and to schedule follow-up meetings with justice partners to explore early interventions aimed at reducing case processing time and average length of stay.