Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Wash. jailers find sawblade in slippers for inmate

  April 17, 2013 in Region OKANOGAN, Wash. — Okanogan authorities arrested a woman after finding a saw blade in the sole of an Isotoner slipper in a package bound for a man accused of shooting … 10

• Medical examiner lists jail death as homicide

  April 3, 2013 in City The death of a 33-year-old man in the booking area of the Spokane County Jail in Feburary has been listed as a homicide. 79

• Commissioners consider new slate of jail options

  September 26, 2012 in City on Page A5 Spokane County officials are reconsidering their 2010 choice to build a new jail at the Medical Lake interchange off Interstate 90. The selection of the Medical Lake site from among … 20

• Inmates take easy way out

  September 4, 2012 in City on Page A1 ST. MARIES – A sign behind the front desk of the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office wryly cautions visitors: “No whining, crying, outright blubbering or the likes thereof … whatsoever! This … 5

• City, county to seek jail system savings

  July 24, 2012 in City on Page A6 The Spokane City Council on Monday joined the county in a wide-ranging effort to reform the local criminal justice system to save money. An agreement unanimously approved by the council … 4

• County agrees to jail reforms

  June 27, 2012 in City on Page A7 Spokane County Commissioners and the city of Spokane appear to have reached a deal on keeping city inmates in the county jail system for now and working on reforms to … 1

• Editorial: County needs immediate solution to jail problem

  April 24, 2012 in Opinion on Page A11 Spokane County and the city of Spokane are negotiating an end of sentence for the Geiger Corrections Center. Time served sounds about right. But a quick end will renew pressures … 10

• Jerry Sandusky to face accusers at preliminary hearing Tuesday

  December 12, 2011 in Sports The case against Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach accused of sex abuse, moves into a criminal courtroom Tuesday, when as many as 10 men could testify … 1

• Sandusky jailed on new child sex abuse charges

  December 7, 2011 in Sports Ex-Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was jailed Wednesday after new child sex abuse charges were filed against him based on the claims of new two accusers, including one … 7

• Former deputy accused of raping inmate at Spokane Indian Reservation jail

  June 8, 2011 in City on Page A5 A former jail deputy on the Spokane Indian Reservation is accused of raping an inmate. Clifford Arlen Matherly, 35, was arrested at a gas station in Chewelah, Wash., on Monday, … 1

• Knezovich makes points in debate over new jail

  May 20, 2011 in City on Page A7 Call it the Dueling PowerPoints. Spokane’s downtown Rotary 21 club got the opening salvo April 29 when Robert Boruchowitz, a Seattle University law professor, made the case for diversion programs … 6

• County raises fees, extends jail contract

  November 18, 2010 in City on Page A7 A public relations contract to promote a Spokane County jail construction bond measure will be extended four months at a cost of $46,156. In other action Tuesday, county commissioners voted … 4

• County picks Medical Lake site for new jail

  June 8, 2010 in City Spokane County Commissioners today voted to put a new jail at a site near the Medical Lake freeway interchange and a community corrections on the campus of the existing Spokane … 17

• Spokane County OKs thousands in courthouse repairs

  May 26, 2010 in City on Page A5 A decorative metal finial – sort of a giant hood ornament – was blown off the roof of the Spokane County courthouse last Wednesday night. A nearly 5-foot chunk of … 1

• Former sheriff says he won’t challenge Knezovich for job

  May 15, 2010 in City on Page B3 Former Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk announced Friday that he won’t challenge incumbent Ozzie Knezovich. Sterk declared earlier this month that he was considering a run, but he concluded there … 4

• Former Sheriff Sterk won’t challenge Knezovich

  May 14, 2010 in City Former Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk announced today that he won’t challenge incumbent Ozzie Knezovich. 7

• Former Sheriff Mark Sterk considers run for old job

  May 6, 2010 in City on Page A6 Former Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk may give his successor, Ozzie Knezovich, a run for his money. It’s a daunting prospect, Sterk acknowledges, because state Public Disclosure Commission records show … 3

• Sterk mulls run for sheriff

  May 5, 2010 in City Former Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk may give his successor, Ozzie Knezovich, a run for his money. It’s a daunting prospect, Sterk acknowledges, because state Public Disclosure Commission records show … 2

• Spokane County Jail vote delay changes PR needs

  April 14, 2010 in City on Page A7 Spokane County commissioners realized Tuesday they may need to extend a jail project public relations contract they haven’t yet signed. Chairman Mark Richard called that “a little bit frustrating.” Nevertheless, …

• Top jail site reaffirmed

  April 10, 2010 in City on Page B1 Once again a consulting study has concluded the best site for a new medium-security Spokane County jail is next to the existing high-security jail. A “weighted analysis” released Friday lists … 9

• City explores opening jail

  April 9, 2010 in City on Page A1 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 … 10

• Spokane wants cheaper jail costs

  April 8, 2010 in City, News 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 rely … 6

• Deadlines bedevil Spokane County prosecutor’s office

  March 24, 2010 in City on Page A1 Efforts to reduce Spokane County’s jail needs through swift justice have hit a “significant roadblock” in the prosecutor’s office, commissioners were told Tuesday. Once again, jail consultant David Bennett told … 13

• Hurdles await park plan

  February 16, 2010 in City on Page A1 Spokane County and Airway Heights officials will meet this month to discuss a regional sports park on the Spokane County Raceway Park grounds. It’s a goal the two governments have … 7

• Tourism tax increase OK’d

  August 27, 2009 in Washington Voices on Page V1 A night at a motel in Spokane Valley will cost 50 cents more under a tourism tax increase approved Tuesday by the City Council. The Spokane Valley council joined Spokane …

• County crafts $147 million ballot item

  July 29, 2008 in City on Page B1 Kootenai County officials say they can expand the county jail and overhaul other public safety buildings without raising property tax bills, despite the projects’ combined $147 million price tag. The …

• Cost of jail, sheriff’s complex soars

  July 1, 2008 in City on Page A1 It’s no typo – the cost to expand the Kootenai County Jail and build a new sheriff’s administration complex next door could total nearly $147 million. The announcement Monday sent …

• Larkin surprised by jail plan

  August 10, 2007 in Idaho on Page B1 Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said he was blindsided by a county proposal to build a jail next to a planned new garbage transfer station just outside the city limits. …