Missouri Sheriff Shuts Jail, Citing Danger to Inmates

There are different ways of approaching the conversation about needing funds for upkeep at a county jail or needing funds for a whole new county jail. Ray County Missouri Sheriff Gary Blackwell has chosen an interesting option.

Sheriff Blackwell on day one of his tenure closed the county jail in Henrietta, Missouri citing a danger to inmates.

To be fair the whole jail isn’t closed. There will still be a 24 hour holding cell that is to be staffed by Ray County Jail employees. Everyone else on staff will retain employment while the jail is closed.

Blackwell notes that there are issues with the plumbing. Water lines that freeze when it gets cold. Electrical and lighting problems, plus the point of inmates damaging the building during escape attempts. The current jail facility was built in 1978.

The current inmates have subsequently been dispersed to jails in Lafayette county across the Missouri river from Ray county. Also, to Harrison county, and the Daviess-Dekalb Regional jail in Pattonsburg, Mo.

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A consultant is being brought in to review the conditions and state of the Ray county jail. Based on the findings of the consultant the conversation about funds for repairs and upgrades may get bumped to a conversation about a whole new facility. Would it be in Henrietta? Would it be in the county seat of Richmond instead?

Making sure the situation remains acute is the fact that it costs to house a county’s inmates in other facilities across the state. That’s probably not a regular line item in a budget (although I could be wrong). In Missouri it could cost up to $120 per day per inmate for secondary housing. Different counties charge different amounts.

But a new facility could house another county’s overflow and bring in money for the host county.

How much can Jefferson City help in this situation? These conversations are front and center now.