From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

---

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: March 10, 2008

Sheriff Increases Jail Population

Sheriff Dennis Dotson announced today that the Lincoln County Jail has increased its inmate capacity. The number and cost of beds for inmates in the jail has always been a concern for many, but now that concern is being addressed. While the capacity of a jail is usually represented by one number, it is important to understand that there are two separate populations in any jail; male and female.

Since August 1, 2006, the number of available female beds has been 34. For males it has been 107 for a total jail capacity of 141. When Sheriff Dotson was appointed Sheriff in July 2003, the jail population was 150; only 15 being female.

The unopened female housing unit in the jail, or pod, contained 28 beds. Through two restructurings in the jail since July 2005, the male and female populations have fluctuated. In December 2004, two pods holding a total of 49 male inmates were closed. Compromise to deputy safety and security, well-being of the inmates, and security of the facility in addition to exorbitant overtime costs were cited as reasons for this closure.

The fact that both pods were designed and built to house a minimum security population of males was also cited as justification. One pod was designed and built to house work-release inmates and the other to house pod and kitchen workers. Cell doors do not include locks, walls separating cells are only sheetrock, and no lavatories are installed in the cells.

While the female population was not impacted, the male population dropped from 135 to 86. While operating costs for the jail decreased by more than $455,000 annually, this created a significant burden on the courts, the District Attorney’s Office, Parole & Probation, and police officers.

These pods were not designed to require 24/7 deputy supervision, but that became necessary after they were filled with inmates who did not qualify for work-release or to serve as workers in the jail. Staffing shortages resulted in overtime costs that exceeded $300,000 annually.

The females were moved into the 28-bed pod in August 2006 and six beds were added, providing for double-bunking in cells large enough to accommodate a second bed and inmate. The total number of female beds grew to 34. Additional male beds were installed in male pods to increase that population as well increasing the number of male beds from 86 to 107.

After more than one year’s experience utilizing the larger female pod, it was learned that the female population averaged approximately 23 females per day. Early releases had not occurred and the full potential of the female unit was not being utilized. Sheriff Dotson stated, “There were empty beds in the jail, and this just didn’t make sense when we were releasing male inmates everyday because of overcrowding.”

In March 2007, Sheriff Dotson created a Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) consisting of one commissioner, the Presiding Judge, District Attorney, Parole & Probation director, county legal counsel, Juvenile Director, Health & Human Services director, a former district attorney, two police chiefs, the publisher of a county newspaper, a retired director from the Oregon Department of Corrections, a defense lawyer, a city manager, the jail commander, two jail sergeants, and the Sheriff. The media was invited to attend all monthly meetings which began in April 2007.

The purpose of the BRC is to evaluate the utilization of the jail by the police, the courts, and parole and probation. The committee’s charge is to create a total system plan for dealing with criminal offenders in Lincoln County and look at the jail as but just one tool to manage and supervise the county’s offender population.

On January 11, 2008, Sheriff Dotson revealed a plan that was being implemented to increase the number of male beds from 107 to 126 and provide 23 beds for the female population. This plan does not include the use of the two pods closed in December 2004.

On February 27, 2008, the female population was moved into their new pod and males were moved into the now former female pod. The Lincoln County jail increased the number of male beds from 107 to 126 and did so without increasing the number of deputies required to supervise the inmate population. “All costs for the additional bunks, food, and medication costs for inmates are being absorbed in our current budget and we will not be asking for more money to implement this plan because it’s not necessary,” stated Sheriff Dotson.

“Additional deputies are not needed for this reorganization, but there’s more,” stated Sheriff Dotson. The Sheriff stated that the number of male beds will increase once again by April 1, 2008 after 12 additional beds are installed in the largest male pod. That will increase the male population from 126 to 138. “The number of male beds being added will allow us to house 31 additional male inmates without increasing the size of our staff, and without going to the Commissioners for more money,” stated Sheriff Dotson.

“This is a huge achievement and occurred because our deputies took my challenge seriously to think outside the box in operating this jail,” stated Sheriff Dotson. “I can’t imagine being any prouder of our deputies than I am at this moment. “Those members involved in the creation of this plan, the implementation of the plan, and to those who are making the plan successful are a credit to this office and the entire law enforcement community,” stated Sheriff Dotson.

This reorganization allows for the housing of 138 male inmates, three more than in 2004 when the capacity was 135. The Sheriff pointed out that the significance in this issue is that prior to December 2004, the cost to house 49 male inmates in the two pods was more than $400,000 annually. Those costs included personnel to staff the pods, inmate medications, food, clothing, and other related costs. Due to the three jail reorganizations since 2005, the cost to house those same 49 male inmates is less than $26,000 annually. This cost reflects predicted increases in medications, food, hospital visits, and clothing.

On or near April 1, 2008, the jail’s capacity will have increased from 141 to 161 with very little cost.

Return to News Releases.