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Families and Advocates Urge County Not to Renew Out-of-State Jail Contracts; Court Approves Contracts Pending Oversight
Summary
Families of people who died in custody and advocacy groups urged the court not to renew multi-million-dollar out-of-state detention contracts with LaSalle Corrections. Commissioners approved several contract items during the meeting while officials said they are pursuing plans to reduce outsourcing and restore in-county capacity over the next 18 months.
Family members and advocates made emotional appeals against renewing contracts that send county detainees to private prisons outside the region. Speakers described cases of medical neglect, long family separations and alleged violations of state guidance on housing people with serious mental-health needs.
"How can you support this $38,000,000 contract renewal for LaSalle?" asked Sarah Knight, an activist and family member, referencing a proposed renewal for out-of-state beds. Fellow speakers said the county should instead invest in local capacity and mental-health diversion programs and urged immediate cancellation of contracts that send residents hundreds of miles from relatives.
County staff and the sheriff's office told commissioners that outsourcing has been reduced in recent months and outlined a stepwise plan to return more detainees to in-county beds as repairs, staffing and remedial-order work advance. Chief Boskus told the court staff'led repairs (HVAC/plumbing) on Floor 7 of the jail are targeted for completion in June'July 2026, and the sheriff's office said that, if systems are certified, those beds could be available for occupancy, allowing staged reductions in contracts.
The court approved several procurement and contract items relating to corrections and county operations during the session; commissioners and the sheriff pledged to seek contract amendments and reductions and to return to court with specific plans and timelines for bringing beds back online and reducing out-of-county placements.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 5440, topfinish SEG 8999
