Jail receives good marks in inspection

BONNERS FERRY — For the second year in a row, the Boundary County Jail has been recommended for certification, a feat that Boundary County Sheriff Kramer had been told was impossible a little over a year ago.

The annual jail inspection took place on June 6. The year before, in 2017, Kramer thought outside of the box, installing an indoor recreational area inside the outdoor recreational area, which provided multiple uses.

“I think it is one of the most unique and creative ways to build an indoor recreational room that I have seen,” said Jail Standards Coordinator/Inspector Cindy Malm during her inspection tour this year. “I’m very impressed with it.”

Since then, the jail also has gained a functioning Sally Port, a secondary security fence behind the Sheriff’s Office with an electronically controlled gate. It helps to protect law enforcement when they bring in detainees. It also extends around the existing outdoor exercise yard, so it creates a boundary between the two fences for added security so the general public cannot approach the exercise yard, hide contraband, or try to communicate with the female prisoners through the window.

“We were able to get that with grant funds with no additional cost to county taxpayers,” explained Kramer.

“It was exciting that we met all of the mandatory standards, both for ICRMP (Idaho Counties Risk Management Program) and for the jail compliance,” said Kramer. “The detention deputies and Chief Deputy Stevens, have been instrumental in brainstorming. We have worked together to see what improvements can be done.”

With the jail being brought into being compliant, they now have a contract signed with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, so that they can also hold their prisoners when needed.

“It is kind of through the agreement that they will pay for that incarceration,” explained Kramer. “It will help them out when they need to bring people up that are in custody or for court. They are currently holding them down in Bonner County. They can bring them up, hold them for a couple of days if we have the room. We get paid for that, the county does, to offset the cost.”

Despite major changes, the jail still faces challenges.

“It is still considered an old jail,” said Kramer. “A lot of the initial plumbing is built into the walls. So there is still challenges, maintaining and keeping it running.”

With background as a commercial plumber, Boundary County Sheriff Level 3 Reserve Deputy Bob Rekstad has been hard at work to keep the plumbing working.

“He has been a lifesaver in helping identify the type of valves,” explained Kramer. “He gets replacements to kind of keep it going, but at some point we will have to address the issue.”

They are also looking at getting the roof replaced on top of the Sheriff’s Office, due leaking problems.

“We are working with the commissioners about that and getting quotes on what it will take to get the roof,” said Kramer.

One of their biggest challenges is their capacity. They are rated for 23 beds. When they get close to their limit, or over it, they are working toward finding other areas that they can house the inmates.

“It used to get down into the single digits,” said Boundary County Chief Deputy Rich Stevens. “Now we are lucky if it gets down into the teens.”

“All the jails are having similar problems, especially those within a reasonable transportation area. A lot of them are having a housing problem with space for females,” explained Kramer. “Our jail, when it was built, was not built anticipating a very large female population.”

Due to increased drug use among women, the jail’s female population is often quite crowded. Kramer says that they are looking for solutions as to how they can handle the increase.

To offset some of the expenses, Kramer said they are trying to hold inmates accountable for some of the costs that they owe, and to help pay their way when they are in jail. They are now utilizing collection agencies to help recover some of the costs.

“If they come in with money and they owe the county money, we pull some of that money off and it goes toward the bill that they owe instead of having several hundred dollars that they are going to spend on commissary, candy bars and coffee and stuff,” said Kramer. “Manage it, so they get the care and the safety, but yet it is not just free room and board.”

Another change that has taken place is that Dave Colby retired from the position of Boundary County Detention Sergeant. Taking his place is Boundary County Detention Sergeant Jeff Hoff, who has been involved in this line of work, off and on, for 17 years, and also served for 21 years in the United States Navy.

“The promotion is outstanding,” said Hoff. “The jail has to have a sergeant, just like there is a patrol sergeant. Somebody has to be responsible for all the day to day work in the jail. Right now, that is my job.”

“I’m not so much making changes, but just tightening up the ship a little bit, as you say. There is things that we can do better, easier. Work smarter, not harder,” explained Hoff. “The man power— I can’t do nothing about. The inmates that come into the jail— I can’t do nothing about. People commit crimes, so they are brought to jail, so we treat them fair but firm.”

The Boundary County jail is a work in progress, but much of that progress has been accomplished in a short period of time.

“It is a challenge, but it is exciting to have our jail once again meet the certification and maintain it,” said Stevens.

And Kramer is not done yet. “We are constantly looking for other areas where we can improve and save costs.”