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Community Justice Center. Analysis of Options. Topics for the Day. What are the key issues? What is the size? What are the options? Where? What are the Capital and Operating Costs?. Key Issues. Skagit County population will increase significantly in the next 20 years.
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Community Justice Center Analysis of Options
Topics for the Day • What are the key issues? • What is the size? • What are the options? • Where? • What are the Capital and Operating Costs?
Key Issues • Skagit County population will increase significantly in the next 20 years. • Crowding at the jail has reached dangerous levels. • The long-term population includes two groups • Long-term pretrial detainees with complex cases and high risk behaviors. • Sentenced inmates who have failed in alternatives and have significant substance abuse issues. • Criminal justice agencies are all impacted by increased workload. • The jail’s physical plant was not designed to support the current population. • Expansion and flexibility in the solution is essential to avoid repetition of the current situation in the future.
What is the Size? • Phase I • 428 beds • 220,000 square feet • Phase II • 280 beds, when needed • 71,400 square feet, when needed
What are the Options? • Option 1. Construct all program components, discontinuing use of jail as a secure adult facility. • Criminal courts needed at the new location • Use current jail for other criminal justice functions. • Option 2. Retain jail “as is” with no connection to the new facility. • Best use of building is maximum security housing • Option 3. Retain jail, with a secure connection to new facility and a single central control for both facilities.
Where Does it Fit? • Access • 5 minutes from fire responder and primary arraignment court • 10 minutes from hospital • Not blocked by natural factors • Multiple access points • Allows for future expansion • Provides adequate parking • Support • Elected officials • Criminal justice agencies A likely footprint for this size facility is about 100,000 square feet if scale remains consistent with current structures in the area.
Conclusions about Site • Current jail parcels are not large enough. • Most likely connections to the Courthouse are from the north. • Potential for re-use of the current administration building. • Viability of underground and bridge connections will need engineering validation. • Parking will be an issue for this expansion. • Expansion capability differs significantly.
Staffing Issues • Current Staffing • Required to fill current staff pattern = 54. • Authorized FTE = 35. • Jail is currently understaffed. • All new plans assume: • Separate court security section • Contract for food service • Contract for health service
What are the Differences? • Staff required to transport inmates, food, materials between buildings and court. • Multiple controls in two facilities. • Inefficient small housing units vs. larger, more efficient housing
Life-cycle Comparisons • Option I costs $7,757,100 more to build than the least expensive in today’s dollars. • Option I costs $973,300 less to operate than Option III and $1,830,100 less than Option II. • Salary savings in Option I pay off the difference in construction costs in 4 years if Option 2 is selected and 8 years if Option 3 is selected. • All salary savings are based on initial occupancy staffing
Questions or CommentsTo leave a comment, or ask a question about the status of the new jail, click on the “Questions or Comments” link on the Jail Status Page.