Sheriff Says Jail Population Rise Requires New Pod Staffing; Board Approves Budget with Additional Corrections Positions

Winnebago County’s sheriff told the Board of Supervisors that jail population growth prompted opening an additional housing pod in September and a request for additional corrections staff in the 2026 budget.

The case: The sheriff reported the jail population has risen and that the pod was opened to accommodate inmates; at times the pod closed when population dipped. The department asked for six new deputy corrections positions in 2026, with another four the following year to staff the pod fully. The sheriff said the county used overtime to staff the pod earlier in the year and that preliminary overtime costs were about $23,000 per month during peak staffing demand.

Supervisor questions centered on ratios and safety. Supervisors asked what deputy‑to‑inmate ratios are considered safe; the sheriff’s office said maximum supervised inmates per deputy can be as high as 68 in minimum‑security, open dormitory settings, while maximum‑security units use different ratios and controls. The board also discussed ankle‑bracelet (GPS) monitoring capacity (33 inmates on GPS at the time) and judicial authorization limits for such releases.

Budget outcome: County personnel and the sheriff said the trend pointed to sustained increases in bookings and the need for staff. The final 2026 budget as adopted included the staffing requested by the sheriff as part of the overall adopted budget (the adopted budget vote was 34–2). Supervisors who opposed adding positions urged alternatives but recognized safety and operational constraints.

Next steps: The sheriff will proceed with hiring processes timed for July 2026 if funded; the county will monitor jail population trends and consider use of state contracting (STAR program) to offset housing and staffing costs when appropriate.