Corrections Center Prisoner Count More Than Doubled

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Story Published: Apr 11, 2008 at 6:00 PM PST

By Sade Malloy

Kittitas County -- There's no nice way to say it.

Kittitas County Corrections Center is housing more than double the inmates it was built for.

Officials tell Action News they're averaging about 100 inmates a day.

From Cle Elum, Roslyn, Kittitas, Ellensburg and anybody State Patrol takes in.

And with arrests and calls for service are up and a population growth times are tight.

Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana says, "They won't take all inmates if a person has a lot of medical problems or is a problem inmate, they won't take them."

So they're saving space by sending some inmates to Sunnyside and Chelan detention centers.

But transportation isn't free.

It's costing about $14,000 a month.

Sade Malloy, KIMA Action News says, "And some inmates locked up for misdemeanors are qualifying for work releases and electronic home monitoring."

They're also putting two inmates to a room, adding a bunk bed to try and get the most out of every room.

But doubling up is creating some new issues.

John Welskop, Kittitas Corrections Center Inmate says, "There's always people fighting over bunks you know they'll be a couple guys on the floor."

And with more inmates behind doors and the corrections center understaffed...

Randy Costello,Kittitas County Corrections Officer says, "I believe the ratio right now is six to one, seven to one there's at least three to four officers watching over 100 inmates."

Making sure the inmates and officers are safe is a top priority.

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