3. Feasiblity study for juvenile detention/alternative holding facility

As alternative sentencing becomes the wave in corrections, we must plan accordingly. In Cass County, we are already well entrenched in local and state alternative sentencing programs. The 24/7 program alone has exploded in its use by the justice system. In a matter of a few short months, we went from 12 people on 24/7 to over 120, and that number continues to rise on a weekly basis. We are doing the best we can to accommodate these programs with our existing structure, but the main lobby of the Cass County Jail was not designed to accommodate 120 plus people and allow regular jail operations such as inmate visitation, attorney/client visits and regular jail traffic; all at the same time. As the 24/7 and alternative sentencing numbers grow, there is the potential for long lines to be processed, with the potential for people to be waiting outside. While that is not an issue in the summer months, we will have a hard time justifying why people, who are following through with their court ordered programs, are standing outside at-20 in the winter months. Our Field Services Division needs to move back into the fold of the Cass County structure. The strip mall space we rent now is working, but there are many issues affecting the environment in that facility. In 2013, all Field Services units of the Cass County Sheriff's Office were combined under one Division Commander to better facilitate our effectives, efficiency and service to our citizens. They are all housed in one small suite of offices in a strip mall north of the jail. The information in the following study will emphasize some of the challenges of our current situation.