ESCANABA, MI-- A serious overcrowding problem will continue at the Delta County Jail after a bond proposal to build a new jail failed last week.
That’s according to Sheriff Ed Oswald, who says he’s been dealing with overcrowding for more than a decade. He says the jail has 85 beds, so when the number of inmates hits 100 or more, county judges have to make some tough decisions.
“They take a lot of time determining the best sentence for the individual, for the community. And I believe a lot of the times they’re taking their population into account. So when we’re going back and saying, ‘You’ve got to reevaluate your sentence because we’re overcrowded,’ it’s just not good for the community.”
The nearly $20 million proposal would have allowed for the construction of a 184-cell jail and renovation of the Delta County Service Center for the Sheriff’s Office. It was rejected by only 23 votes.
Oswald says jail personnel will continue to do the best they can with the facility they’ve got. He notes officials may try for another bond proposal in the future.
