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Sheriff urges jail expansion, cites aging 1993 facility and rising special-needs population
Summary
Sheriff Scott Knuts told the committee the 1993 jail no longer meets modern classification and medical needs, described full special-housing cells and receiving shortages, and cited a $46 million estimate for expansion in a 2027 capital plan.
Sheriff Scott Knuts (S7) gave an extended briefing on the county jail and a 2023 study that staff say supports a large expansion in the coming years. He said the jail opened in 1993 with a design capacity of 131 beds (the Department of Corrections recommends using 80% of design capacity), explained that classification and separation needs have changed dramatically, and described current operational workarounds such as converting gym and dorm spaces to housing.
Sheriff Knuts reported an uptick in detainees with medical and mental-health needs—he said roughly 80–90% of recent inmates are on medication—and noted nine special-housing cells were full plus two of three receiving cells occupied during the briefing. He and staff cited a current KIPP estimate of about $46,000,000 for an expansion listed in the 2027 capital plan; staff cautioned the project has a typical three-year lead time between approval and occupancy. "When it was 1st opened up, we could house up to a 131," the sheriff said, summarizing why space and classification changes drive the need for a new plan.
