KOOTENAI CO., Idaho — Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger and others cut the ribbon on the county’s new jail expansion Monday afternoon.
The addition, which Wolfinger says was badly needed, will cut down on jail overcrowding here. 124 beds have been added and 108 more can be added later
The expansion has cost $11.4 million so far, which is slightly under budget. Over 32,000 square feet of finished space has been added.
The county has, at times, had 100 inmates housed in other jails across the Northwest. Now, they’ll be brought back to Coeur d’Alene.
"Huge safety factor of not transporting inmates. You can imagine traveling to Yakima in the middle of winter with a van load of inmates," Sheriff Wolfinger said.
The expansion and new space that meets state standards will also reduce the county's liability, Wolfinger said.
20 additional jobs at the jail have now been created.
"It will help the economy. Because you're spending more money here in the local area," Wolfinger said
Wolfinger added that the expansion came in slightly under budget and was finished ahead of schedule.