New Jail Standards Causing Concerns In Clay County

Clay County is planning to ask Governor Dayton for an executive order that would exempt the jail from new inmate housing standards.

 

 

 

 

Clay County is planning to ask Governor Dayton for an executive order that would exempt the jail from new inmate housing standards.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections is increasing the minimum space requirements from 50 square feet to70 square feet per inmate. If that happens, Sheriff Bill Bergquist says the jail's overcrowding problem will only get worse. He says the number of inmates housed outside the county would rise from about 20 each day to approximately 50.

Bergquist says at the very least, he hopes the county is exempted until there's enough money to build a new jail, which is likely several years away.

Sources say a formal request could be sent to the governor in a matter of days.

 

Jim Monk

   

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