Sep 2nd 2022 | Posted in Vertical by Government Contracting Pipeline

Minnesota – The Beltrami County Jail Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study has been completed and the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners met on August 24 to discuss the findings.

Recent inspections of the jail have revealed a lack of storage space, a central control area, proper visitation spaces, staff training spaces, and program spaces for inmates.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

In order to responsibly house the projected number of inmates the jail will have in about 30 years, the facility would need to add an additional 105 beds to the current total of 132.

The study provided seven options, one being to do nothing. Another is to build a new detention center. The advantages of a new build – the county would be able to design a new facility layout, would add the bed capacity to avoid transporting most inmates out of the county, reduce safety risks, local tax dollars would stay within the county, and could add program space for inmates. Disadvantages would include capital construction costs, the need for a new site, and it wouldn’t be adjacent to the courthouse.

The other five options include expanding the current detention center, reducing the jail to a 36-hour holding facility, building a regional detention center, or closing the detention center.

A site has been set up for residents to provide feedback on the study. A public hearing will be held September 22. The final results of the feedback will be presented to the board for consideration.