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Sheriff warns lack of inpatient mental-health and competency-restoration beds is increasing county jail stays
Summary
Sheriff Blendin told supervisors that shortages of inpatient psychiatric and competency restoration beds are forcing people found incompetent to remain in county jail, with multiple people now on wait lists; he urged continued monitoring and coordination with state systems.
Sheriff Blendin told the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 12 that shortages of inpatient mental-health and competency restoration beds are having direct operational impacts on the county jail.
Blendin reported the jail population at 83 adults with one juvenile and 16 out-of-county detainees. He said the county is already feeling the effects of statewide slowdowns in competency-restoration placements: “We continue to see a lot of challenges with mental health and inpatient finding inpatient beds...we have 3 on a wait list now.” He described the resulting strain when people found incompetent remain in jail while waiting for restoration or transfer.
Blendin asked the board to be aware of the issue; supervisors did not take immediate policy action at the meeting but acknowledged the operational challenge and indicated continued monitoring and coordination with state partners would be necessary.
What’s next: sheriff’s office staff will continue to coordinate with state providers and report back on changes to competency-restoration processes that affect local capacity.
