Vote nears on juvenile center

SANDPOINT — Tuesday, Bonner County voters will head to the polls to determine the fate of a $6.6 million, two-year override levy for a new juvenile detention center.

Polling places are the same as in past election, with the exception of Sagle Elementary due to construction at the school. Voters who traditionally vote at that polling place will vote at the Sagle Senior Center.

If approved, the proposed levy would go to build a new juvenile detention facility to replace the existing structure, which can only hold 12 juveniles and lacks secure housing for violent or sexual offenders.

The new facility would have 32 beds, which would satisfy the county’s needs and allow it to rent space out to other counties and agencies.

State law requires commissioners to provide for the detention of youthful offenders.

 The county’s existing facility, a converted four-bedroom house, is at capacity and cannot be expanded, Bonner County Justice Services Director Debbie Stallcup has said. In addition, juveniles have to be frequently juggled around the house to keep male and female offenders separated.

Moreover, the facility cannot be supplanted by portable housing units and still meet Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections security standards.

Critics question the need and cost of the facility, saying the county should make do or transport youthful offenders to the Region 81 juvenile detention center in Kootenai County.

County officials say that is not practical and that costs to transport juveniles to and from Bonner County would be staggering.

Stallcup has said the county averaged 417 juvenile bookings per year for the past several years, which would result in at least 834 round trips Kootenai County. The staff costs of transporting the juveniles would be $169,353 and the fuel costs would be $48,789, a sum which factors in the 58 cent per mile reimbursement from the state.

The annual detention cost at Region 1 is figured to be $741,726, based upon the county’s three-year average of 4,167 bed days a year. All told, the annual cost of transferring the juvenile inmate population to Kootenai County is pegged at $959,868, a figure which assumes a swift disposition in each individual juvenile case.