Ideas Needed To Help Solve Jail Problems

A citizens’ advisory committee studying crowding at the Kootenai County Jail is seeking volunteers.

The group’s third meeting is planned for Thursday in the county administration building. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in meeting room 1A.

Forty-one people have volunteered so far to study solutions to crowding that has plagued the 11-year-old jail.

Jail population has soared during recent years, reaching a single-day high of 211 in 1996. More recently, population has hovered near 160.

Built in 1987 to house 95 inmates, the jail’s capacity has been expanded to hold 127. Much of the facility’s office and storage space has been converted to cells.

For more information about volunteering, contact Renee Harrison at 765-6232, extension 331.