Detention costs add up at Region 1

SANDPOINT — A five-month snapshot of juvenile detention bookings in Bonner County is drawing into focus the potential economic toll on taxpayers if the county is forced to close its detention facility.

Bonner County spent $36,312 to hold juvenile inmates at the state’s Region 1 facility in Coeur d’Alene between September 2009 and January 2010. If that seems a hefty price, the cost to Bonner County would be more than five times that if all of the county’s juvenile offenders had to be held in Coeur d’Alene.

If all Bonner County juveniles were detained at Region 1 during that time span, the cost to taxpayers would have been a staggering $193,486, according to figures compiled by Bonner County Justice Services.

Youthful offenders from Bonner County are typically detained at the Region 1 facility if they are an escape risk, a sexual offender, combative or violent, or need constant supervision because of mental health issues.

Bonner County logged 883 bed days at its facility during the five-month period. During that time, the county accrued 204 bed days at Region 1, which charges $178 per bed day.

Bed days could represent one juvenile who is held for nine days or three kids who are held for three days.

“We just track it by bed days because that’s what we’re being charged for,” said Justice Services Director Debbie Stallcup.

Annually, the county projects it would have to spend $700,000 to hold all its juveniles at Region 1. They further anticipate that sum to surpass $1 million once transportation and staffing costs are factored in.

The county has avoided that fate for several years, but the limitations of the former home that serves as the current juvenile lockup could make such windswept predictions a reality. The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections advised the county this month it can no longer certify the facility because of the building’s limitations.

County officials are groping for a way to resolve the dilemma through a lease-to-purchase agreement that would not encumber county property or place an unconstitutional burden on taxpayers.

An attempt at passing a levy to fund a new facility was soundly defeated at the polls last year.

Although the grim financial predictions were not enough to sway voters, Stallcup said those who have taken the time to see the facility’s shortcomings for themselves are sympathetic.

“Usually they walk away saying, ‘How can I help? What can we do? How can we change this?’” she said. “I haven’t really met anybody who looks at it and doesn’t get it.”