THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders says the jail is running out of space for women, specifically those who are being housed there for violent crimes and undergoing mental health crises.
As a result, the sheriff’s office has put booking restrictions in place.
“TCSO Corrections Deputies have made use of every possible available inhabitable space in the jail to house these inmates, including the transfer unit and the video court area,” Sheriff Sanders said.
Neither was designed to be a permanent living space.
So, what does this mean?
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office will continue to enter the warrants. However, if the warrant is not on the list below of confirmable offenses, the warrant will be ignored and not confirmed:
• Domestic violence assault
• Domestic violence order violation
• Violent felonies
Warrants that do not meet this threshold will not be accepted. Those crimes include, but are not limited to:
- Burglary 2nd degree
- Auto theft
- Property damage
- Felony harassment threats to kill
- Hit and run with injury
- Arson 2nd degree
- Fraud
- Impersonation
- Theft
- Drug dealing
Probable cause arrests are not impacted at this time.
“Failing to enact these restrictions would place the county in a high liability scenario, with risk of harm being placed on both staff and inmates alike,” Sheriff Sanders said.
When conditions improve, Sheriff Sanders said the restrictions will be lifted. If conditions deteriorate, restrictions will be applied to probable cause arrests as well.
The county is looking into solutions for the space shortages.