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When Flathead County Justice of Peace Eric Hummel decides whether an individual charged with a crime will be held in the Flathead County Detention Center, he starts by checking the capacity of the jail.
“When there is a homicide, a drunk driver and someone charged with burglary and there is only room for two in the jail, then the court must decide who gets released,” Hummel said to a standing room only crowd gathered at the Historic Courthouse. “We need a larger jail. Our justice system relies on the ability to hold individuals accountable, but right now space limitations dictate outcomes.”
For more than two decades, the county jail — constructed in 1986 — has been plagued with overcrowding, safety concerns, limited ability to serve inmates with mental health needs, a lack of appropriate space for rehabilitation programs and unsafe working conditions, according to officials.
When Flathead County Justice of Peace Eric Hummel decides whether an individual charged with a crime will be held in the Flathead County Detention Center, he starts by checking the capacity of the jail.
“When there is a homicide, a drunk driver and someone charged with burglary and there is only room for two in the jail, then the court must decide who gets released,” Hummel said to a standing room only crowd gathered at the Historic Courthouse. “We need a larger jail. Our justice system relies on the ability to hold individuals accountable, but right now space limitations dictate outcomes.
KALISPELL, Mont. — Sheriff Brian Heino addressed three pressing public safety challenges confronting Flathead County, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions to protect the community.
"Our current facility is outdated, overcrowded, and unsafe," Heino said, referring to the county's jail and public safety building. "A new building is urgently needed to meet today’s demands and keep dangerous individuals off the streets."