PAYETTE COUNTY, Idaho — Like many counties around Idaho, Payette's decades-old jail is not big enough to keep up with the growth and crime in the area. That is why the county is working on a long-term plan to expand and update the facility.
"We're finding that over half of the year, we're overpopulated, and we've had failed the last several annual jail inspections," he said. "It's time for us to start planning for an expansion so that we're able to keep up with the growth that we're seeing in our community."
U.S. Census data shows about 4,600 people moved to Payette County between 2010 and 2023. Creech said the overcrowding started nearly a decade ago; there have been some efforts to revamp the jail, but nothing has been successful.
So, the county hired Clearwater Financial to help create a master facilities plan. The plan will be for both the jail and the courthouse since they are in the same complex.
"We're really trying to look and plan for the future of how we're going to expand courtrooms as well as the jail facility. That way, as we do this, we do it in phases, and they all tie together," he said.
The maximum number of inmates the jail can hold is 69. Creech said the biggest issue is the lack of space for women who are incarcerated. It is also not well built for protective custody needed for some of the inmates, as well as segregation.
"We're unable to have any kind of work release programs, which would also be helpful to the community as well," he said.
A better jail would also increase security. The last inmate that escaped was in 2022; the one before that was in 2014.
Collapsed sewer pipes are a big issue. A housing unit is shut down because they cannot get parts to fix a broken toilet. They have also had to turn closets into offices.
"[Overcrowding] just makes it harder to manage inmates in the jail facility," Creech said, "and then we end up releasing people into the community that we would have otherwise kept in jail on a bond."
He said they want to finish the plan by the end of the year. They are still trying to figure out how they would pay for the expansion, likely through a bond.
There will be a citizen's advisory board and other opportunities for people to get involved. Creech said they want as many people as possible to provide input so they do not end up putting something on the ballot the community will not vote for.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.