Sheriff reports jail census of 22, special management unit to open; commissioners hear staffing updates

The county sheriff told commissioners on Dec. 9 that the jail’s in-house census was 22 and that staffing fills and unit reorganizations are underway as the county prepares to open a special management unit.

The Sheriff reported recent hiring progress — several officers have been offered positions or are in field‑training phases — and said overtime costs remain elevated because of vacancies and training schedules. “In‑house census today is 22,” the Sheriff said, noting the facility’s total capacity is “just over 200.” He said the special management unit should be operational by Jan. 1 as partner counties transition and federal‑inmate placements shift.

The Sheriff also noted the county received a Bureau of Highway Safety grant that will support increased enforcement on impaired and distracted driving over the December holiday period. He described ongoing transfers of inmates to other counties and said the jail currently houses federal inmates, including several ICE detainees, under intergovernmental arrangements.

Commissioners asked about staffing needs and capacity: the Sheriff said the county aims to complete onboarding and FTO processes that should bring shifts closer to full staffing in the coming months. Commissioners emphasized the importance of hiring to fully staff the jail and to meet the expectations of partner counties under regional arrangements.

Next steps: the commission will continue to monitor hiring, staffing costs and the rollout of the special management unit as partner counties finalize transitions.