Twin Falls County Sheriff looks to address overcrowding at jail

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — For almost six months, workers have been renovating the old juvenile detention center. They are adding additional beds and space to host programs, such as counseling to better help inmates. As soon as they are done, Sheriff Jack Johnson is hoping to break ground early this summer to start building a new jail.

Currently they are are dealing with overcrowding.

“To give you an idea, this morning we had 328 inmates in custody. We only have a 254 bed facility currently that we are operating,” Sheriff Johnson said.

The jail will go next to the old center. Sheriff Johnson said the lack of available beds has been causing problems for inmates and the guards.

“Tensions very high as you can imagine in a facility when you have overcrowding that we have right now. And that tensions high amongst the inmates and that creates tension problems and safety problems for our deputies too,” Sheriff Johnson said.

To deal with overcrowding right now, the Sheriff’s Office has to send inmates to other counties.

“We currently have a contract with Jerome County for 25 beds a month and anybody else, it’s wherever we can find bed space,” Sheriff Johnson said.

Sheriff Johnson said inmates could be sent as far as Nez Perce County and having to do this is costing the county a lot of money.

“That’s costing Twin Falls County about a million dollars a year in out of county housing. So by building this facility that’ll absorb that out of county housing, keep those tax dollars home here,” Sheriff Johnson said.

Sheriff Johnson said the new jail will add an additional 165 beds. It also gives the county the ability to house inmates from other counties to recoup any costs. The new facility is set to cost between $20-24,000,000, which will come from the county. The construction should take 14 to 18 months, depending on availability of supplies and weather.

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