Regional Jail Plan Falls Flat
A study slated for release Thursday will show Kent County MI has adequate jail facilities and not enough cash to join with Allegan and Kalamazoo counties in creating a regional jail.
The three counties a year ago commissioned the study to see whether they could save money by banding together in operating a single jail … Sheriff Larry Stelma told officials last month the study will show the county’s current 1,478-inmate capacity is enough to handle needs for now, despite concerns that necessary upgrades to older parts of the jail could mean 50 to 75 fewer beds. Officials are planning how best to spend the millage county voters approved in August for upgrading maximum-security cells in parts of the jail built in 1958 and 1974.
“We don’t have an immediate need, and we would need to figure out how to pay for it,” said Assistant County Administrator Wayman Britt, who worked on the study.
MI Allegan County, MI Kalamazoo County, MI Kent County, Regional Jails