A contract in the works between Latah County and Nez Perce County would house Latah County inmates at the jail in Lewiston.
A release from the Latah County Sheriff’s Office says their facility was built in 1972 and “…is no longer able to meet the basic requirements necessary for continued certification.” It goes on to say they’ve been repairing it and receiving that certification, but now the cost to do so would be about the same as building a new facility. They estimate that at $13 million and would only extend the facility’s usefulness by five to ten years. They would have to replace the fire suppression system, plumbing, electrical, and camera systems to stay afloat in the current building.
The facility will become a court holding facility no later than October 1st. It will be staffed during court hours and will book and house inmates during the day. Other than that, assuming the contract is signed by Nez Perce County, detainees will come to facility at the Port of Lewiston.
The release from the Sheriff’s Office says shipping inmates south with give them a chance to focus on long-term planning for housing and to “prioritize the safety of both staff and individuals in custody.”
In the release, Sheriff Richard Skiles says “This decision reflects our commitment to building a safer and more sustainable future for Latah County.”
