Sheriff: state delays in accepting sentenced inmates are overcrowding jail and costing county millions

Sheriff Forstall told the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee that Marion County’s adult detention center is operating over its funded capacity and that the state’s slow acceptance of sentenced inmates imposes substantial local costs. "They pay us $42 It cost us 85. So that's about a $4,000,000 difference that we absorb each year," the sheriff said, describing the funding gap created when sentenced inmates remain in county custody beyond the period the state is required to assume them.

Councilors confirmed a verified complaint was filed earlier that day seeking a judicial remedy to compel more timely state action and to address the fiscal impact. The sheriff and CFO said the office is exploring other housing options and legal paths, and noted that even if the department were funded to its 2027 FTE level the KPMG staffing study indicates the adult detention center would still be significantly understaffed relative to recommended deputy counts. The committee did not vote on new appropriations during the session; members asked for additional fiscal detail and follow-up on the complaint's status.