Jail beds not utilized until Supervisory Authority finds consensus
The Josephine County Jail is authorized to house 99 inmates but only 72 are jailed today and Friday the Supervisory Authority, an organization comprised of local justice system organizations, will discuss how to best utilize and fill those remaining beds.
Sheriff Gil Gilbertson says current protocols for the jail are designed to allow a total of 60 inmates. Until the new protocols are adopted jail staff is turning potential inmates away.
The Department of Public Safety contacted the jail Wednesday morning to lodge four individuals who were arrested during a raid. The jail responded that they did not have the resources and they would not be taking the suspects.
Gilbertson says before the jail can be entirely utilized all the interested parties need to decide which offenders to prioritize over others. He says the DA’s Office wants some beds held for failure to appear suspects; probation wants beds for probation violations and the Sheriff’s Office wants to fill all the beds and lodge serial burglars.
Gilbertson says once the new protocols are put into place the jail should be filled to capacity by next week.
Posted on 9/27/12 11:37PM by Jared Dill
