Crook County struggles with lack of jail space
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 21, 2014
- Meg Roussos / The BulletinInmates of the Crook County jail wake up in their cells in Prineville on Friday. There are four cells, each holding four people.
Every day in Crook County, sheriff’s deputies play what can be a dangerous game.
One hundred twelve offenders who have been sentenced to jail time in Crook County owe additional time or are waiting to serve, according to a weekly report released by the sheriff’s office.
The jail often releases offenders early to make room for more serious offenders in a process called matrixing. In the past week alone, the county released 11 inmates.
Due to limited capacity, sentenced offenders receive or are docked certain points for the nature and severity of their offenses, adding up to totals that determine whether they should be released, according to Crook County Sheriff Jim Hensley.
“It’s a balancing act,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Al Bond, who serves as jail commander. “You’ve got to look at a lot of factors. You can’t predict what people are going to do.”
Hensley couldn’t recall any specific cases, but said that people who have been approved for release have committed additional crimes once they’re free.
“We usually deal with the same core group,” said Hensley. “They’ll do one crime, then when they get released they’ll go do it again.”
Hensley and interim Prineville Police Chief Les Stiles said something needs to change: The county’s 16-bed, 1,200-square-foot jail is simply insufficient.
“We have a major problem,” Stiles said. “We can’t keep people where we need to keep them to prevent problems downstream.”
The sheriff’s office has funds to rent up to 16 beds in Jefferson County, but Hensley said he can rent additional jail beds if necessary. As of Monday, Crook County inmates occupied 18 beds in the Jefferson County jail. It costs Crook County $64.95 per night per inmate to rent a jail bed in Jefferson County, and that doesn’t include transportation costs.
Stiles said sheriff’s deputies can go back and forth at all times of day, both to book new inmates and to transport them for hearings in Crook County Circuit Court.
The Crook County jail consists of four cells that can house four inmates each. The cells share a common hallway, exercise area and day-use area with tables, books and a television.
Sometimes conflicts between inmates prevent them from being housed together safely, said Hensley, and the facility does not have separate quarters for female inmates. And the risks don’t stop there, said Hensley. Crook County can’t control what happens at other facilities, he said.
“If people are lodged in other facilities, I’m still ultimately liable,” said Hensley. “We have been sued because of actions by other facilities.”
In 2012, a Prineville man, Curtis Hooper, filed a federal suit against Crook and Jefferson counties and the city of Prineville, as well as 25 individuals, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, civil rights violations and intentional infliction of emotional distress during the duration of his months spent as an inmate at the Jefferson County jail, according to Bulletin archives.
In February, a settlement was reached with Jefferson County and former Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Robbins for $325,000, according to Bulletin archives. All other claims against Crook County, Prineville and most of the individuals named in the lawsuit were dismissed with prejudice, meaning Hooper can’t bring forth action in the same case again.
Jeff Wilson, Crook County legal counsel, did not return a call for comment on the legal risks posed by the arrangement.
City Manager Steve Forrester said Prineville and Crook County have sought a space-needs study to evaluate what local law enforcement, including the jail, may require in the next 30 years. Local officials envision a Community Justice Center, which would house the police department, sheriff’s office, jail and district attorney’s office under one roof.
The plan is slated to go before the County Court and the City Council this fall, said Hensley.
“We’re going to provide the best possible services that we can provide that the community is willing to pay for,” said Hensley.
In the past year, the jail has begun electronically monitoring offenders, and Hensley would consider sentencing offenders to sheriff’s work crews or community service projects in lieu of jail time.
In the event that a new jail is not approved, Hensley said, the office would continue to pursue these alternatives.
— Reporter: 541-383-0376, cwithycombe@bendbulletin.com