Out-of-county boarding and booking numbers are up at the Wadena County Jail this year, Sheriff Mike Carr told the county board. The Wadena County Jail is averaging 11 inmates a month for out-of-county boarding so far, he said. The jail boarded out an average of eight prisoners a month last year.
The jail spent $128,000 so far this year for out-of-county boarding compared to $71,000 last year, Carr said.
Overall booking numbers rose from a total of 760 in 2006 to 819 this year with one month remaining, he said.
Commissioner Orv Meyer asked Carr what caused the increased numbers.
Carr said a lot of younger officers and a good prosecuting attorney are two possible reasons.
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Meyer asked if that was good or bad.
It's good, Carr said. Aggressive law enforcement helps to deter serious crimes.
Carr also addressed other jail population issues in his appearance before the board.
Meyer asked Carr to inform commissioners about the Sentenced to Serve inmate situation.
The problems with the jail population aren't related to STS or work release prisoners, Carr said.
"It's a problem with the general population," he said.
Huber is a good thing, Carr said.
"We don't like to see these people lose their jobs," he said.
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Chairman Bill Stearns said there were rumors that Huber inmates are taking all the jail space and there is no room for STS inmates.
Carr said, no, most inmates in the jail are awaiting sentencing. Jail policy requires that STS inmates be sentenced.
Meyer asked Carr how prisoner's length of stay before sentencing in Wadena County compares to other counties.
In a county like Crow Wing there are four, five judges on the stand, Carr said. Wadena County has one judge a few days a week.
"I'd say we're no different now than a lot of places," he said.
Carr then added, "It's just that now a lot of people want to fight."
When cases are taken all the way to a jury trial that's when they start to get really expensive, he said.
Right now there is a murder suspect and a serious assault case awaiting trial in the Wadena County Jail, he said. The county expected to hold the trial for the murder suspect this fall but that is delayed until spring 2008.
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"Sometimes it might be a broken system," Carr said. "I don't know."
