Members of the Marshall County Council came together Monday morning in a two-hour work session to put questions on the table regarding the proposed expansion of the Marshall County Jail.
All government leaders are attempting to get those questions answered against what is proposed to make a decision that can benefit all involved at a cost that is justifiable.
Sheriff Matt Hassel said the decision is difficult with all of the variables being considered. County Councilman Jim Masterson asked the sheriff what he feels he needs at the facility.
“Right now I’m researching all kinds of different programs,” stated Hassel. “I do need more classroom space because I have people willing to put on programs for my inmates that might help them reduce recidivism, but we have to have a classroom space to put them. We have to have to be able to separate them into their own cell block so that the people can go right into that cell block and present the program.”
He said as far as beds, it’s hard to predict.
“It’s kind of like predicting your health. It’s kind of like predicting the weather. Nobody who built this jail 12 years ago, except for Jon [Van Vactor, County Councilman], ever thought that we’d be doing anything to this jail until 2027. You don’t know.”
He said more space is needed, especially for classroom space, but room is needed so they can clear out a cell to do checks for potential contraband. Currently, there isn’t space to do that following proper procedure so it’s a potential safety issue.
Unpredictability is the biggest issue government leaders are facing. Two solutions won’t provide immediate relief. The approval of the fourth court and the construction of an additional jail pod, if approved, won’t be implemented until at least 2021 or 2022. They’re also looking at what pace other programs will have on the overcrowding situation. They also touched on the number of programs being offered and the percentage of people participating in the programs and if that will help bring down the jail population and how quickly that moves. Just like in conversations held when planning the expansion of the existing jail more than a decade ago, the council questioned how will society and the behavior of its citizens shape the future and how will that affect the jail population?
Other topics will be touched on in upcoming MAX 98.3 FM Newscasts including existing programs, and operational and program costs that are anticipated if the jail expansion breaks ground. More on the operations at the jail, and other functions of all the entities involved will be featured this week.
