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Countys new Competency Restoration Unit expected to bring $1.4M but corrections staff warn of capacity limits
Summary
Corrections leadership told the budget committee a new Competency Restoration Unit (CRU) will likely bring about $1.4 million in revenue, but jail staff and the sheriffs office said staffing shortages, contract medical costs and program management issues mean additional deputies and careful oversight will be required.
Davis County corrections officials told the Budget Committee that a Competency Restoration Unit (CRU) moving into the county jail is expected to begin receiving inmates within weeks and could bring about $1.4 million in revenue, but staff warned the financial and operational benefit depends on hiring and retaining deputies and managing medical and program costs.
Andy Oblaid, who introduced himself as the corrections chief, said the countys average inmate population in 2025 was about 630 and that the department operates with chronic understaffing. Oblaid said the CRU staff have moved offices into the facility and "we are anticipating that will bring about $1,400,000 of revenue into the county." He said the county would be the only jail in the state providing the CRU program.
Oblaid also outlined other program and contract items: the ankle-monitor program, SCRAM, and the ongoing relationship with Wellpath, the contract medical provider. He told the committee that Wellpaths contract contains an unavoidable increase (about $178,000) that must be paid under the existing multi-year agreement. Oblaid said Wellpath covers short hospital returns (less than 24 hours) but that longer hospital stays and related deputy transports can create county costs.
Staff described an RSAT (residential substance abuse treatment) contract opportunity worth roughly $500,000 if the county can recruit a therapist who meets minimum qualifications; a previous recruitment failed to reach the standards and the county plans to reopen the vacancy. Corrections leadership urged caution about overreliance on contract revenue, noting that revenue declines if the jail fills with county inmates or if contracts end.
Committee members discussed funding lines, and a commissioner suggested moving inmate medical expenses back into the corrections operating budget (from an internal inmate-benefit fund) to improve transparency. Oblaid said staff had no objection to that accounting change. No formal action was taken; staff asked the committee to continue consideration of funding and staffing tradeoffs and to return with budget refinements.
