Sheriff says county jail passed state inspection after corrective actions; inventory and property procedures flagged

Sheriff Johnner reported that the county jail’s most recent annual inspection by the North Dakota Department of Corrections (DOCR) resulted in final sign-off after the facility submitted corrective action plans.

The sheriff summarized the DOCR’s process, saying inspectors reviewed documentation, interviews, records and video during a multi‑day visit in mid‑February. The sheriff said the county received the inspection certificate by email the prior Friday and that the facility has “been able to achieve 100% compliance” during the years the facility has been open under the current inspections regime.

Inspectors required only a few corrective actions, the sheriff said. The issues cited included maintenance tool inventories and the level of detail used when recording inmate property. The sheriff said staff have revised procedures, will verify maintenance tools as a secondary step, and had already submitted plans to DOCR for review. DOCR accepted the proposed fixes, according to the sheriff.

The sheriff’s office described the corrective items as procedural and not indicative of conditions that would endanger safety. “It’s not anything that’s gonna sacrifice any kind of safety,” the sheriff said, noting the changes aim to tighten inventory accuracy and reduce liability where property is claimed missing. The office also emphasized that the jail operates extensive video and audio monitoring that helps resolve property disputes.

Officials discussed whether to publicize the inspection results; the sheriff said the office has at times posted results to social media but will coordinate with county communications staff on any broader press releases.

No enforcement action or population caps were ordered by DOCR following this inspection, and the sheriff said DOCR accepted the submitted corrective action plans.