NDDOCR prioritization plan could affect Stutsman County Correctional Facility if extended – Jamestown Sun

JAMESTOWN — The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s prioritization plan could affect the Stutsman County Correctional Center if it continues for an extended period of time, according to Chad Jackson, prison administrator.

“I wouldn’t say in the near future, but without a doubt it could potentially affect housing in the county,” Jackson said. “If it goes on for a long period of time, individuals stay longer and longer, and that then consumes the bed space that we need for further arrests or other contractual agreements. We have many contracts with counties around us that also need our help to house these people.

The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) implemented a prioritization plan on October 28.

DOCR said in a press release that it has exceeded its operational capacity of 1,624 for men incarcerated since July 1, 2023.

“The prioritization plan allows DOCR to refuse to admit sentenced inmates to its custody when the admission of inmates will exceed the maximum operating capacity of DOCR and affiliated facilities and will cause the department to exceed its appropriation for contracting for housing inmates in other correctional facilities,” the DOCR website states.

The DOCR has a maximum operational capacity of 1,624 men and 224 women. DOCR operational capacity includes North Dakota State Penitentiary, James River Correctional Center, Missouri River Correctional Center, Dakota Women’s Rehabilitation and Correctional Center, contract treatment, housing facilities transitional/community and contract beds in county and regional correctional facilities.

Offenders convicted of Class AA, A, and B violent felonies will have first priority for admission to DOCR. Offenders convicted of non-violent AA, A and C crimes will have second priority.

Jackson said the Stutsman County Correctional Center has a maximum operating capacity of 92 inmates. The correctional center had a total of 58 inmates as of Monday morning, December 30.

“It is not our goal to operate this way, because it is very difficult to have new admissions,” he said, referring to the correctional center whose maximum operational capacity is 92 inmates.

Jackson said the number of inmates at the Stutsman County Correctional Center is currently low.

“Part of that is because some local numbers are down a little bit, but also our contract numbers are down a little bit, the U.S. Marshal Service in particular,” he said.

Jackson said the correctional center tries to house a certain number of inmates to help offset some of its operational costs.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser, who is in charge of the jail administrator, said DOCR will pay the Stutsman County Correctional Center for holding inmates sentenced to DOCR.

“But they don’t pay what we usually get on a contractual basis,” he said.

He said the correctional center receives about $100 a day on a contract basis from the counties or the U.S. Marshals Service to hold state inmates.

“It’s less than the operational cost,” Jackson said.

He said the correctional center contracts with surrounding counties and the U.S. Marshals Service to house their inmates.

Individuals sentenced to DOCR are initially housed at the Stutsman County Correctional Center for the county and surrounding counties.

“You will stay here until DOCR tells us we can get them there,” Jackson said.

Kaiser said the Stutsman County Correctional Center housing inmates from surrounding counties also is holding back correctional center beds to admit other inmates.

He said the Stutsman County Correctional Facility can petition DOCR to admit an inmate housed at the facility.

“They are flexible on that, but there are no guarantees on that,” Jackson said. “There are special circumstances where we can expedite this from time to time upon request.”

Jackson said DOCR could contact the Stutsman County Correctional Facility if the DOCR facilities were truly full.

If an inmate sentenced to DOCR is held at the Stutsman County Correctional Center, they always get credit for time served.

Jackson said the Stutsman County Correctional Facility statutorily has an inmate population plan.

“Every prison needs to have a plan,” he said. “We have one… that would incorporate the use of other alternatives, more EHM (electronic home monitoring) type equipment. Currently we are using the program 24/7. This helps mitigate many alcohol-related offenses.

For law enforcement, Kaiser said he has no concerns at this time about DOCR implementing the prioritization plan.

“If we have to start doing this electronic monitoring of homes or choosing who we bring into the correctional facility, then that will be the case,” he said.

If a person can serve time through electronic home monitoring, Jackson said the Stutsman County Correctional Center works with the courts if additional help is needed.

“They may be able to be flexible with certain sentences and/or pretrial situations,” he said.

As an example of what could happen to the Stutsman County Correctional Facility if the prioritization plan is in place for a longer period of time, Kaiser said the Cass County Jail is already experiencing a shortage of inmate housing .

“They only bring in the people who have to and that’s it,” he said. “Then some of their people turn away. So every time a police officer arrests someone in Cass County, they have to call the correctional center to see if they will take them away.