Title
Reopening of Jail North to House Growing Inmate Population
Action
ACTION:
Amend the FY2027 Budget Ordinance to reopen Jail North by increasing expenses for the Sheriff’s Office by $3,213,591 and increasing revenue by the same amount to include $2,866,250 from State and Federal sources, and a transfer to the General Fund from the Sheriff’s Special Revenue Fund of $347,341.
Staff Contact:
Sheriff Garry McFadden, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office (MCSO)
Andrey Melkonyan, MCSO Business Operations Director
Presentation: Yes
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The Mecklenburg County Jail population has accelerated since the passage of Iryna’s Law. The population is now growing at a faster pace than anticipated. Additional bed space is necessary to serve the current population. The Sheriff’s Office has developed plans to open a portion of Jail North to create 224 additional beds, with maximum potential of 250 beds, based on the medical staffing plan. This expansion will rely on existing staff and have an additional cost of $3,813,591. A portion of the cost will be offset by realignments of $600,000 of expenses within the Sheriff’s budget. Revenue from housing Federal inmates of $1,916,250, housing State backlog of $800,000, SCAAP grant of $150,000, and a transfer from the Sheriff’s Special Revenue fund of $347,341 will offset the remainder of the cost.
The expansion of Jail North will provide some relief from overcapacity at the Central Detention Center but will not fully resolve overcrowding. As the jail population continues to grow, additional expansions are likely to be necessary. The expansion of Jail North is not related to juvenile detention, but related facility questions may be addressed as appropriate.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
Increase FY2027 appropriation of General Fund (0001) for the Sheriff’s Office by $3,213,591.