Riley County official: jail population rising, juveniles and offsite housing strain resources

Mark French, who identified himself to the commission as a public safety lead for Riley County, told commissioners the jail has seen a marked rise in population and operational strain. "Yesterday morning, we had 140," he said, referring to the average daily population (ADP). "Our actual number in custody was at 153. We're currently holding 10 juveniles in custody." French added that eight inmates were housed offsite that morning, which he said magnified transport and overtime needs.

French urged the commission to note budget implications. He called attention to supply and food costs, saying the county had seen a sudden one‑week jump of more than 20% in ground beef prices and that laundry costs are large when population swells. "We're going to manage it fine," he said, "but it's important that you recognize this" and suggested commissioners consult the finance department about the fiscal impact.

French described capacity constraints: Riley County’s facility is a 147‑bed jail but one male pod had been closed to handle females, leaving only a few open general population beds. He said the county was using offsite beds and relying on overtime for transports, particularly when juveniles must be moved under two‑officer requirements.

He closed by inviting officials to inspect operations. "You guys are always more than welcome to come down and take a look, see what's going on," French said. The report did not include a proposed policy change; it was delivered as an operational update and a request that commissioners be aware of fiscal and staffing pressures.