A new and/or improved detention facilities system that can absorb programs and inmate capacity that will be lost when Geiger Corrections Center closes.
To alleviate overcrowded conditions within the present facilities.
Provide additional capacity to accommodate the projected growth in inmate populations over the next 25 years.
Allow for an economical interim housing facility that addresses the County’s needs between 2008 and when a new permanent detention facility is built.
Permanent detention system and facilities that provide for the safety of the community, staff, and offenders while meeting the fiscal responsibilities of Spokane County.

Project Need

The need for the project is primarily a result of the closing of Geiger Corrections Center (GEI) in 2013 due to the expiration of the property lease and the increasing demand for detention services. GEI has the capacity of 610 inmates and operates out of a variety of1942-era Army Corps of Engineers buildings located on six acres of leased land.

Approximately 100 inmates are on Electronic Home Monitoring (EHM) and about 40 inmates are on Work Release. Currently, 20 Federal female inmates are housed at Geiger and 6 work crews operate out of the facility. The majority of the county’s inmate education and treatment programs operate from this facility. Due to its impending closure, Spokane County must plan, develop and construct a new detention facility on a larger site prior to 2013.

The total maximum inmate capacity in the county’s two detention facilities is 1,285. The Spokane County Jail has a capacity of 675 inmates and GEI has a capacity of 610. The current “Average Daily Population” (ADP) for both facilities is approximately 1,170 inmates, which clearly illustrates that our current detention facilities are very near capacity.

The existing jail was originally built to house approximately 475 inmates on six floors, with a mezzanine on each floor. In 1990, retrofits in the form of double-bunking in modules, cells and dorms were added to accommodate inmate population increases.

These retrofits increased the capacity of the jail to 675. However, continual increases in the inmate population have meant that some jail inmates have to sleep on mattresses on the floor. Though the original building was designed for “Direct Supervision,” the continued increase in population requires inmates to be locked down for extended periods and allowed out in small groups. This change in management philosophy has also increased the amount of staff that is required to ensure a safe environment for both inmates and officers. Given the aforementioned, the jail is fast approaching a critical situation where it is in violation of Spokane County’s Ordinance Standards as it applies to correctional facilities.

The Spokane County Jail is managed under the Sheriff’s Department which is located in the adjacent Public Safety Building. However, the Sheriff’s Department is not the sole user of the Jail. Other users include the City of Spokane Police Department, the Police Departments of three major universities, six surrounding small cities, the Washington State Patrol, Fairchild Air Force Base and the U.S. Marshal/Federal Government. With an annual booking total of 33,912 in 2006, the majority of bookings take place at the Spokane County Jail; however, some bookings occur from the courts and Geiger. The transportation unit of the jail provides approximately 35,000 transports per year to the Courts. The transportation unit is also responsible for transports to the 9th District Federal Courthouse in downtown Spokane.

According to a study completed in 2004 by an independent consultant, the inmate population is expected to grow at a rate of approximately 65 inmates per year. Using the information from this study, in 20 years Spokane County will need 1,300 additional beds by the year 2027.

Assuming that a bond issue for a permanent replacement facility is passed in November 2009, it is expected to take approximately five years to plan, design and construct a new detention facility. This five-year time span equates to a growth of approximately 325 new inmates. Given past population growth trends, the need for additional inmate housing between now and the time when permanent facility can be built, necessitates an interim housing facility.

As a result of the increase in offenders and the lack of additional capacity, the safety of jail staff, inmates and the public has been seriously compromised. The increase of offenders has also compounded problems associated with operational inefficiencies and outdated security systems at the existing facilities. It is the goal of Spokane County to develop programs and facilities that provide maximum safety standards for the public, staff, and offenders.

This page was last edited 2/17/2009 1:49:29 PM.