Pima County could build a $400M jail. What to know

After a request from Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos to replace the county's aging jail, citing infrastructure and capacity problems, a commission tasked with assessing the need for a new jail is reaching the deadline for its recommendations.

The Pima County Adult Detention Center Blue Ribbon Commission has met monthly since June to assess the need for a new jail or improve the current jail.

Issues with current jail; plans for new jail

In early December, Nanos delivered a presentation to the Pima County Board of Supervisors about the aging jail, noting its struggling 40-year-old infrastructure and issues with capacity and staffing. The board created the commission to help address this problem.

Some of the issues included poor mechanical, plumbing and roofing systems, inefficient building design, furniture in poor condition, and a mental health unit that is no longer suitable, among a range of other issues.

The commission is made up of 10 commissioners, most of whom have been in law enforcement and the justice system, others are in construction, real estate and one is a pastor. They were recommended by county staff because of their expertise.

On Thursday, Commissioner Paul Wilson, former Pima County Sheriff Department Bureau Chief presented the requirements of an adequate jail to house the growing number of inmates over the next 20 years. He said the jail is currently at operating capacity.

“If our projections are accurate, within six years, they will be at their desired capacity. And that's a real problem for the jail,” Wilson said.

Currently, the jail can house up to 2,030 inmates, and according to the commission's projections, will need to house at least 3,162 over the next 20 years.

Wilson presented four options that his team looked at for the jail. The first two, which he said were not feasible, involved rehabilitating and renovating the facilities. The reasons why these were unattainable ranged from a lack of bed space for a growing population, to lacking enough temporary bed space to move inmates during construction.

The feasible options included rehabbing the main campus facilities and constructing a new housing unit with 1,132 beds or constructing a new facility.

How will the jail be funded?

When Nanos presented the board with information on the jail’s condition in December, he requested the board approve a half-cent sales tax to fund the construction of a new facility.

According to initial estimates from the county and sheriff’s department, a new jail could cost between $250 million and $380 million.

At the July meeting, the commission members assigned with identifying a funding source did not address how much it will cost.

“The commission will really need to weigh renovation/overhaul costs vs new construction costs,” the May meeting summary notes stated.

What comes next?

During the commission’s next meeting on August 10, it will allow for community input on initial findings. In September, it will develop final recommendations before presenting its report to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

Board chair Adelita Grijalva said during a July 25 board meeting, that the board would do a study session before a vote on the new jail.

Jail critics say new facility will not reduce Pima County Jail deaths

During the July board meeting, people spoke out against building a new jail, noting that numerous people have died in the jail this year, and their deaths had nothing to do with structural issues and everything to do with negligence.

“Sheriff Nanos has not proven that a single death that has happened in that jail happened as a result of the infrastructure,” Tiera Rainey, executive director of Tucson Bail Fund, said.

She told the story of Yunan Tutu who died earlier this year from eating his own feces over two months.

“When I hear that story, that’s not a story of infrastructure, that is a story of gross negligence and incompetence. Where is the accountability from the Sheriff’s Department and specifically Sheriff Nanos?” Rainey said.

According to Arizona Luminaria, Pima County so far has had eight jail-related deaths this year, and 24 last year.

Others at the board of supervisors meeting asked the board to put the money for a jail into social services, affordable housing and public health issues.

“As a health care worker, I’m shocked and appalled that the solution to this public health crisis is to incarcerate more community members,” Ashley Edgette said.

Edgette also asked where the accountability was for the deaths of those who died at the jail. She recalled Wade Welch who died on Aug. 16 last year, after being tased to death by Pima County Jail corrections officers.

Pima County isn’t the only county wanting to build a new jail

Earlier this year, Cochise County voted for a half-cent sales tax to build a $100 million new jail. Like Pima County’s jail, the Cochise County Sheriff said the jail there was suffering from structural issues, as well as outdated security and capacity issues, many of which would be costly to repair.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republic’s coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pima County could build a $400 million jail. What to know