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Commissioner: local jail upgraded, probation caseloads have surged
Summary
Commissioner Lori Zoller told the council the county jail has received a health‑services grant, holding cells and staff changes that are improving conditions; she warned probation caseloads jumped from about 80 to over 300 clients for two officers in the past year.
During a question‑and‑answer exchange, Commissioner Lori Zoller said the county jail will remain at its current Klickitat County site and that recently rehired correctional staff have been central to shifting the facility culture. She described a new grant to deliver health services in custody, a medication‑tracking system and the addition of holding cells. "60 beds, currently between 26-35 inmates," she said, and noted juveniles continue to be housed at Norcor.
Zoller described efforts to reduce frequent‑user cycles among people with nonviolent issues through skills training and county positions. She also flagged capacity shortfalls in probation services: caseloads increased from roughly 80 to more than 300 clients in the last year for two officers, creating operational strain and prompting some judges to reduce probation placements because supervision capacity is limited.
The commissioner said the county is negotiating contracts with nearby cities for transport and housing of certain clients and is exploring culturally appropriate facility enhancements such as artwork by local indigenous artists. No formal policy change was decided at the council meeting; Zoller described these as ongoing operational adjustments and grant‑funded improvements.
