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Commissioners question state proposal to place inmates on county work release
Summary
A state proposal to send state prisoners nearing release to county work‑release assignments prompted commissioners to raise legal, staffing and housing concerns; commissioners indicated little interest without more information and assurances.
The board reviewed an email brought forward by staff describing a state proposal to contract with counties to supervise state prisoners nearing the end of their sentences for work‑release assignments in local communities.
Commissioners asked whether the inmates would be people originally sentenced in the county or state prisoners transferred from other counties; they raised statutory and jurisdictional questions and said the county jail would need to agree to housing and monitoring arrangements. One commissioner noted the county lacks sufficient staff to monitor an increased jail population and asked who would be responsible for supervision and for costs. Another warned of ancillary effects if prisoners accustomed to Department of Corrections amenities were housed in county facilities with fewer amenities.
After discussion, several commissioners said they were not interested at present; no motion or authorization was made. Commissioners requested more information and suggested follow‑up questions for the state, including compensation and return/transfer procedures.
