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Sheriff reports 87 inmates, youth academy launch; public-health snapshot flags food insecurity
Summary
Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glenn Denning reported 87 adults in the jail and described a new 10‑week youth academy; public-health staff summarized county metrics showing elevated mental-health days and food insecurity affecting roughly 5,500 residents.
Kevin Glenn Denning, Des Moines County Sheriff, told the board the jail population that morning was 87 adults, including 19 housed out of county. He said four inmates were on a list for prison transport and four others were awaiting placement at a residential facility; prison intake depends on space at Oakdale and other facilities. Denning also said the sheriff’s office started a 10‑week youth academy with eight local participants and described ongoing concerns about competency-restoration wait lists and the need for more inpatient behavioral-health beds at the state level to ease local jail and corrections pressures.
Krista Pogamiller, public-health staff, presented the Iowa Department of Human Services county snapshot comparing Des Moines County to state averages: 5.14 poor mental-health days per month (state 4.7); adult binge-drinking rates around 22.3%; about 271 county residents received substance-abuse treatment in fiscal year 2025; 14.3% of residents live below the poverty level (Iowa average 11.1%); approximately 10,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid; and an estimated 5,500 county residents experience food insecurity. Pogamiller flagged housing-cost burden and cancer incidence/death rates as points for continued attention.
Both officials emphasized the need for community-based services and additional resources to reduce the “revolving door” between behavioral-health crises and jail detention.
