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Item 1.L.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 02/26/2024 |
| Title: | County Short Term Jail Request |
| Presented by: | Chris Kukulski, City Administrator |
| Department: | City Hall Administration |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Not Applicable |
| Project Number: | NA |
RECOMMENDATION
Council approve the attached draft letter dated February 26 to the Yellowstone County Commissioners and Sheriff, providing financial support to the County's proposal to construct a short-term detention facility.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
A lack of incarceration space in the Yellowstone County Detention facility continues to cause significant problems for safety in our community. In order to bridge the gap between our current situation and the construction of an expanded jail, the City offered a cash incentive asking the County to open a temporary short-term detention facility.
The proposed project will primarily hold low-risk offenders who pose a risk to the community but have not been charged with a crime severe enough to warrant detention in the limited space currently available at the main Yellowstone County Detention Facility (YCDF). This short-term holding facility will be a pre-arraignment hold only, with most inmates being released on a bond and/or GPS monitoring after seeing a judge and some being remanded to the main YCDF. Right now, many of these offenses are going without consequence in our community, due to overcrowding at YCDF and a flagrant disregard of the criminal justice system by persons accused of these crimes.
The attached draft letter is in response to the previous letters dated November 7, 2023, January 30, 2024, between the City and County regarding the construction of a short-term holding facility. The letter proposes the City provide $2,000,000 in cash over three fiscal years with a series of conditions. (see attached Feb. 26, 2024 draft letter)
The improvement of safety remains the City's top priority.
The proposed project will primarily hold low-risk offenders who pose a risk to the community but have not been charged with a crime severe enough to warrant detention in the limited space currently available at the main Yellowstone County Detention Facility (YCDF). This short-term holding facility will be a pre-arraignment hold only, with most inmates being released on a bond and/or GPS monitoring after seeing a judge and some being remanded to the main YCDF. Right now, many of these offenses are going without consequence in our community, due to overcrowding at YCDF and a flagrant disregard of the criminal justice system by persons accused of these crimes.
The attached draft letter is in response to the previous letters dated November 7, 2023, January 30, 2024, between the City and County regarding the construction of a short-term holding facility. The letter proposes the City provide $2,000,000 in cash over three fiscal years with a series of conditions. (see attached Feb. 26, 2024 draft letter)
The improvement of safety remains the City's top priority.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve; or,
- Amend the enclosed draft letter.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The City proposes providing approx. $2.7 million in value to Yellowstone County. $2.0 million of which is in cash over three fiscal years ($500k FY2024, $750k FY 2025 and $750k FY 2026).