116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Polk County jail sees population dwindle
Associated Press
May. 28, 2012 11:15 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Polk County Jail has been less crowded than usual, easing concerns that the county might need to open a vacant wing of the jail.
Officials report that the jail reached its capacity of roughly 1,100 several times this winter, which is typically a slow time for arrests. But Dillon Kraft, a planner for the sheriff's department, says the population dropped last week to 984 from 1,036 in April.
County leaders raised concerns in April that they would have to resume shuffling prisoners to other counties or hire more staff to open unused areas of the new facility.
The jail has room for more than 400 additional prisoners. That space has been unused to save money.
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