Caribou County commissioners review proposed jail standards that could require 24-hour two-officer coverage

The Caribou County Board of Commissioners on March 26 heard a jail-standards presentation from Sheriff Ric Anderson, Cindy Maim and Dave Sasser that outlined possible certification changes which could require two detention officers to be on duty around the clock.

Sheriff Ric Anderson told the board that one proposed standard under consideration by the county's Jail Standards Committee would mandate two detention officers 24 hours a day. He said meeting that standard could require the county to hire additional staff. Anderson also suggested moving the dispatch area out of the jail to address space and safety concerns.

The presentation noted the committee may impose additional standards for jail certification; the sheriff and jail staff framed the proposed staffing change as a likely budget and personnel issue if adopted. Commissioners did not take immediate action and said they would consider the recommendation further.

Why it matters: requiring two detention officers at all times would raise ongoing personnel costs and could affect budget planning, hiring timelines and shift coverage in a rural county. County leaders signaled they will weigh staffing and facility implications before deciding whether to adopt the committee's proposed standard.

What happens next: The board took the presentation under advisement and made no immediate decision. No formal motion or vote was recorded on staffing or facility relocation at the March 26 meeting.