Spokane7
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April 9, 2010 in City
City explores opening jail
Lockup would be for low-risk inmates
The city of Spokane wants to spend less money housing low-risk inmates and will begin exploring cheaper options, including the possibility of creating its own minimum-security lockup rather than relying on the county jail.
The idea, which could include using a private jail contractor, caused tension this week with county leaders concerned that a city jail could torpedo a four-year regional process aimed at building a new countywide lockup and putting greater emphasis on rehabilitation. The county currently charges daily incarceration fees for housing inmates from the cities.
Despite that tension, Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich pledged at a news conference Thursday afternoon to maintain a partnership on jail issues.
“It’s one of multiple options and no decisions have been made, and those decisions, if and when they are made, will be made with our partners,” Verner said of a city jail in an interview after the news conference.
Knezovich said the county will move forward with plans to select a site for a new jail to replace the aging Geiger Corrections Center. He hopes a proposal can be ready for the ballot in about a year. If the city starts a misdemeanor lockup, Knezovich said the county’s plans would be re-evaluated.
The sheriff said he stood with the mayor Thursday because continuing to work with the city is the only way to salvage a regional approach.
He added that it’s likely the city will discover that one jail system is cheaper than two.
“I truly believe that we as a community cannot survive alone anymore” Knezovich said. “Our budgets just don’t allow that.”
Dorothy Webster, Spokane’s general administration director, said the city will examine the possibility of opening a low-security jail that could be owned by the city, county or a company that would contract with the city.
“The city is just exploring its options, not trying to be competitive or obstinate,” Webster said. “We owe it to our citizens to explore every option we can in order to deliver cost-effective services.”
Verner called the city’s partnership with the county “fully intact.”
“I have requested meetings with the county commissioners and the sheriff because we want to see what their reaction is to this concept,” Verner said in an interview Wednesday. “It seems to have merit from our point of view. There could be cost efficiencies and process efficiencies.”
Spokane County operates the downtown jail and Geiger, a former Army barracks on the West Plains that houses low- and medium-security inmates.
Disputes between the city and county about the cost of housing inmates are long-standing, and the county’s jail rates have often irritated city administrators.
In less than five years, the county has tripled the cost it charges cities for housing inmates at Geiger.
In 2006, county leaders threatened to release city of Spokane inmates from Geiger because the city was refusing to pay its full bill. That year, the county increased its cost of housing Geiger inmates from $41 a day in 2005 to $60 a day in 2006. At the time, the county charged $78 a day to house inmates in the downtown jail.
This year, the county is charging cities $121 a day to house inmates at Geiger and at the jail.
Webster said a misdemeanor jail could cut costs, in part, because guards may not need to be commissioned officers, who typically earn higher wages and benefits.
Meanwhile, Knezovich said, negotiations between the city and county are on track to restart a corrections program aimed at reducing the jail population and keeping offenders from committing new crimes with treatment and job assistance. The county cut the program last year because of budget cuts and hopes the city will contribute resources to help restart it.
Knezovich said he hopes the program is running again by July 1.
Sex trafficking suspects released as probe continues 
Another_Perspective on April 09 at 1:38 a.m.
Wont happen. @$121 a day, cheaper to put them up in the Davenport.
greyhound2 on April 09 at 5:43 a.m.
Nationally, about 60% of the 5.7 million Americans incarcerated in jail are there on drug charges, due to the failed War on Drugs initiated by Nixon. In addition to the burden of building new jails, the cost of incarceration averages about $30,000 per year per inmate, all paid for by property owners. Criminalizing drugs has only made winners of drug dealers (higher prices) and the prison-industrial complex (jobs). If you think the public supported jails are bad, the private run prisons are even worse with most inmates existing in a living hell. It is long past time to reevaluate the entire approach to the drug problems, as there are more drugs on the street now than when the failed War on Drugs started, and the only result has been that the United States has more people locked up in jail than any country on the planet. Time for some common sense.
mikeln on April 09 at 6:29 a.m.
Where would the CIA get it’s funding if drugs were made a health matter instead of a crimminal problem? We are a lot less safe now then before we started this sick little war against our own people.
zerla on April 09 at 6:48 a.m.
If we all think alike, why is there STILL a war on drugs?
I agree, and have no more to add about the ill-conceived drug laws.
As to the jail—bravo City of Spokane. The County always has grandiose plans to make money—be it jails or raceways. WE should not be paying for “treatment”, especially when treatment is not shown to be effective.
zerla on April 09 at 6:50 a.m.
I should add…
To the City: If you let them build their dream jail, I guarantee you your daily price will go up far beyond what they charge you now. The Commissioners are not very good at looking toward the future—just study their errors with the raceway. DO NOT get locked in with them in any long-term business deals!
ChefGus/ John Olsen on April 09 at 6:58 a.m.
If an amount of money was spent up front for schools, social programs, and child protective services it would over time reduce the need for so many jail beds. Money spent on social and mental health support services, and schooling and training are hard to come by, and the net result is the collateral damage to our society with packed jails and high recidivism rates. Help Sheriff Ozzie by funding his program that was “ditched” by the short sighted male commissioners. John
Scoutster on April 09 at 8:30 a.m.
Hey, Kids! Here’s an idea…
Let’s spend money on people BEFORE they go to jail.
Incarceration is a wasted effort except for the most violent offenders. Any smarter alternative is worth exploring.
Another_Perspective on April 09 at 8:32 a.m.
We could just call it Bachelor Housing for the SPD officers. There are at least whom need some long term facilities. Karl Thompson should be the guest of honor.
horse_feathers on April 09 at 9:11 a.m.
I think this is how copper wire was invented, the Mayor and the Sheriff fighting over a penny.
UA_Big_Dummy on April 09 at 10:26 p.m.
Knezovich is just trying to sure up his Regional Police force bid. He’s a clown!