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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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In Our View: Jail Proposal a Rare Win-Win

Skamania County would rent beds to Clark County to relieve overcrowding

The Columbian
Published:

A recent post on the social media site Yelp poked fun at a sojourn in the Clark County Jail.

“I have had the opportunity to reside here twice in the last 6 months,” writes the poster, who rates his experience as five stars.

We doubt that many people check in to the jail for a rest and a change. But there’s no question that the beds are in high demand. While average jail population in the last five years has dropped about 5 percent statewide, Clark County’s has risen by about 10 percent. On an average day, 761 men and women are incarcerated, either at the county jail next to the courthouse or at the work center off Lower River Road.

Some days, that’s more than can be comfortably accommodated, and there’s too little space for those who should be locked up, such as state Department of Corrections clients who have violated the terms of their release from prison.

That’s why a new proposal by the Clark and Skamania county sheriff’s offices seems like a win-win situation. Under the terms of an agreement under discussion, Clark County would lease 15 beds in the Skamania County Jail in Stevenson. Some Clark County prisoners, probably those from the Camas-Washougal area who don’t need to appear in a Vancouver courtroom, would be housed there. That would free up more beds in Vancouver for the Department of Corrections clients.

A look at the financial terms makes the agreement even more appealing. Clark County would pay Skamania County $55 per bed per day to house its inmates. Meanwhile the state pays counties $81.67 per day to house its inmates. In other words, Clark County stands to make a profit of $123,000 this year and nearly $150,000 next year, money that could be directly used to offset the cost of running the jail.

For Skamania County, the deal is a lifeline. Most of the land in the county is owned by the federal government, which is no longer paying its share toward supporting community services, such as education and law enforcement. This year, Sheriff Dave Brown had to cut $720,000 from his budget, resulting in the loss of six positions. And the Skamania County Jail, which has a capacity of 50, averages only about 28 prisoners.

Renting 15 jail beds to Clark County would give Skamania County an immediate $250,000 boost this year, followed by $300,000 next year, and would protect the jobs of two corrections deputies, Brown said.

Though the number of leased beds would average 15, the proposed agreement allows for ebbs and flows. Brown says Skamania needs at least 10 beds to be filled on average. If Clark County’s facilities are full, more than 15 beds could be leased in Skamania County.

County officials in both Clark and Skamania are working to finalize the agreement, which appears to provide a rare win-win for both government and taxpayers. It should be approved and implemented as soon as possible.

It even provides a win for wags who like to review their jail stays on the Internet. Rather than staying in a large all-inclusive resort, imagine a stay in a boutique facility far from the madding crowd. Begin your respite with a sojourn along the scenic Columbia River, from the roomy back seat of a chauffeured sedan. Trade that Clark County orange or dull gray jumpsuit for Skamania’s classic striped lounge wear. And maybe, just maybe, this time learn your lesson and stay out of trouble.

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