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Consultant tells Lincoln County jail is operating beyond safe capacity; study recommends further planning
Summary
RS Security presented a draft jail-capacity study finding the county jail is operating over capacity under ACA and Montana standards, with average daily population around 32, limited classification space and safety/design shortcomings; the consultant recommended further study on renovation vs. replacement and prioritized safety and compliance.
A consultant presented a draft preliminary jail-capacity study to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on April 29 that concluded the county jail is operating beyond safe or recommended capacity and carries increased liability and operational risk.
Rich Sitins, owner and security consultant of RS Security, said two site visits and staff interviews informed the draft. Sitins said the county’s facility — housed on a lower level of the courthouse — contains few cells (many cell doors have been removed), limited support space, co‑mingled intake and movement corridors, blind spots, and manual door and communications systems. Based on standard comparisons he cited, the facility’s emergency capacity is about 20 beds, rated capacity about 15 beds and a recommended operational capacity near 11–12 beds under ACA and Montana standards; staff reported an average daily population near 32.
Sitins told the board these conditions hinder classification of inmates by custody level and increase liability exposure. He singled out lack of a secure sally port for transfers, constrained egress and accessibility (stair-only internal movement that complicates ADA compliance), limited medical screening space, and manual-only door control as life‑safety and operational challenges.
Commissioners and the sheriff acknowledged the findings and said the study gives the county a starting point to explore options. RS Security recommended further planning and cost analysis for renovation versus replacement, noting that even with proactive work the full solution can take years. Sitins suggested a fuller in‑person presentation to the commission and said he would finalize the report and schedule a longer briefing.
The board did not take formal action to begin a capital project at the meeting; commissioners agreed to request the final report and a scheduled in‑person presentation from RS Security.
