Press Release
Custer County, Colorado
On Thursday, December 29, 2022, the Custer County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) voted to adopt Custer County Resolution 22-30. This resolution closes the Custer County Jail on January 6, 2023. In addition, the BOCC approved an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with Fremont County to house Custer County inmates/detainees.
Three main factors went into making this decision: one – the cost per day of housing an inmate/detainee; two – the operational costs and the age/condition of the jail; and three – the expected unfunded mandates to be adopted by the 2023 Colorado Legislature.
In 2022, the average cost per day to house an inmate/detainee was $460. The total cost to operate the Custer County Jail in 2023 was projected to increase to one million dollars. When the Sheriff reached out to neighboring counties about partnering with Custer County to house inmates/detainees, Fremont County is able to provide Custer County with the detention services required including on-site medical staff and reliable vacant bed count to house prisoner(s) from Custer County at a cost of $120 per day as identified in the 2023 IGA with Fremont County.
The current cost and design of the jail does not meet the Sheriff’s needed safety requirements. For example, a recommended air handling filtration system is not in place to help limit the spread of respiratory infections. Custer county jail does not have body scanners to detect contraband hidden in body orifices. This is a rising security issue across the State. The increased needs for basic maintenance and upkeep for the current building was also a factor considered in closing the jail.
It is anticipated that the 2023 Legislature will adopt new jail standards for all county jails. These mandates will be unfunded by the state. Our Sheriff’s office has been successful in implementing past mandates; however, it is highly unlikely that Custer County will have the funds to meet the new State requirements.
Following the recommendation of Sheriff Robert Hill and Sheriff-Elect Rich Smith, the BOCC carefully considered the impact to Custer County’s citizens and their fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of the County in making this decision.