Caledonia Argus

Sheriff says jail has reached ëcrisisí stage

Posted: 3/9/04

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Houston Countyís options are becoming more expensive for solving its overcrowded jail problem.

Commissioners listened to input from Sheriff Mike Lee and jail administrator Mark Schiltz at its board meeting Tuesday, March 2.

Lee reminded commissioners that eight years ago, the Minnesota DOC (Department of Corrections) was planning on shutting down the jail, but relented after the county agreed to make some necessary upgrades. At that time, the county was told it would need to do something else in 10 years.

Last year the county spent over $100,000 in transporting prisoners to other facilities because there was not enough room in its jail. Lee said they are on track to spend even more money this year. ìI donít look for it to go down. What do we do? Do we continue as we are?î

There is hardly a day goes by that Lee doesnít have someone on the road transporting a prisoner. And many times, there will be two to three transports a day.

In 2003, the county logged 57,604 miles and 1,259 hours in transporting prisoners, compared to 38,058 miles and 906 hours in 2002 and 46,910 miles and 1,129 hours in 2001.

In 2003, the jail averaged 10 prisoners per day. It has14 beds, but can not usually hold more due to classification issues. Currently, the average number of prisoners being boarded out to other counties is four. The reasons prisoners are in jail are varied, Schiltz told The Argus. For example, as of Monday, March 8, people were being held for domestic assault, felony assault, stalking, methamphetamine violations, and DWI, just to name a few.

The origin of prisoners is mixed. Some live in-county as well as out-of-county and out-of-state.

The county could build a Huber or work-release facility for prisoners, which would put off the transportation problem for another 10 years, said Lee, or they could build a facility that would take care of the issue for a long time.

For the past several years, the county has received a 100 percent rating from the DOC on the way it manages its facility. However, those ratings have not been perfect lately, said Schiltz, because incorrect classification of prisoners. There are currently 18 different ways to classify a prisoner. ìTheyíre (DOC) getting tighter and tighter on us,î said Lee.

Schiltz warned that if the DOC feels the jail is inadequate it could declassify it to a 72 hour facility, which would cause even more transportation headaches for the county. It is currently classified for a 90-day lock-up.

Commissioner Larry Graf questioned if a regional jail would alleviate some of the issues. ìEven five to 10 years down the road, do you think theyíll (DOC) let us keep the jail?î

Lee said they would still face the same problem of not being able to hold females or juveniles in the current facility. A regional jail might solve the problem of prisoners who are facing up to a one year sentence, but the county would still have transportation costs associated with female and juveniles because they would not be able to stay in the current facility. Also, the county would need to provide work release privileges if a prisoner qualified for it, which means they would probably stay in the current facility.

Commissioner Ann Thompson noted that a bigger jail facility will mean hiring more staff.

Some jails can be built in such a way that not as much staff will be needed, according to personnel director Tim Comstock. For example, a linear shaped jail will have greater reoccurring costs, than would an oval shaped jail that allows staff to monitor prisoners within a control center in the middle.

Lee said the only way he could see a regional jail working is if they teamed with just one other county. He explained, ìWhen you get four or five (counties), youíre too far from the center.î

Lee described the situation as a crisis and added, ìItís a decision no one wants to make, but itís got to be made. When you make the decision, you have to forget about politics.î

Comstock noted that bonding rates are low right now, if the county wanted to borrow money for a new jail. ìThe county has no debt obligations,î he added.

The county has been researching options for the jail for the past eight years. Suggestions were made to look at jails which serve a population size similar to Houston Countyís.

It was noted that commissioners might consider whether they want a criminal justice building that includes the offices of the county attorney, court administration, probation and jail or if they want a facility for just a jail.

Thompson said, ìWe want to get away from criminals walking through the public, and have controlled access to the courtroom.î Currently, guards walk prisoners outside from the jail to the courthouse.

Thompson questioned if it made sense to also put the human services department in the criminal justice building.

Lee responded, ìYou got to cut it off someplace with who youíre going to have (in the criminal justice building). Itís your decision.î

Corcoran also brought up the issue of not being able to tear down the current jail because of its age and historical significance. The jail was built in 1875 and is 129 years old. It is the oldest operating jail in Minnesota. The second oldest jail was built in the 1900s.

Schiltz suggested turning it over to the Houston County Historical Society.

ìSo, whatís the next step?î questioned Lee.

Thompson replied that they could not make any decisions right now because Commissioner Kevin Kelleher was not present.

Corcoran said, ìWeíll have to have someone take a look at the other jails. Itís just like going shopping for a house. A lot of things depend on a lot of things.î

Lee noted, ìThereís a lot to be learned from other counties.î

He added, ìIf youíre going to take this step, make sure you can hold males, females and juveniles so weíre not out transporting women and kids.î

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