COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                                         MAY 12, 2004


The Elmore County Commissioners met in special session on the above date in the Commissioner’s Room, basement of the Elmore County Courthouse, 150 South 4th East, Mountain Home, Idaho. The purpose of the special meeting was to meet with members of the Jail Bond Committee.

Present at the meeting were Chairperson Mary Egusquiza-Stanek and Commissioners Larry Rose and Calvin Ireland. Also present at the meeting were Clerk Gail Best, Sheriff Rick Layher, Chief Deputy Sheriff Nick Schilz, Jail Captain Lynn McCallum, Plant Facility Manager Dan Collins, and Judge David Epis.

Captain McCallum asked Judge Epis if sometimes the Court is holding off on sentencing people to jail due to lack of space? Judge Epis stated he could not speak for Judge Sellman, but he is aware of the space limitations because he talks with the bailiffs and often they will comment that the jail is full, or they have so many female prisoners, etc. Judge Epis said of course there are times when someone needs to go to jail despite the situation at the jail - and the Sheriff must find some way to house the inmate, either here or at another facility. Judge Epis said he feels that the alternatives to actual jail, like the SILD program and electronic monitoring need to be preserved since, in some case, they are the best solution. Judge Epis said he would estimate if the jail had more space, he might use jail time perhaps 10% more at times.

Commissioner Ireland asked Captain McCallum if it is true that sometimes people report to the jail and are told to come back later? Captain McCallum said it is true, especially with females. They are told to keep checking in - they have to begin their incarceration within forty-five days of sentencing. Judge Epis said what he tells people at the time of sentencing is to report to the jail within twenty-four hours, and they have forty-five days to begin serving their time, unless they are a case that needs to go to jail immediately. Judge Epis added that in Ada County people are told to come to sentencing and bring their toothbrush.

Judge Epis stated that the Court is actually down in cases being tried according to Court statistics. Judge Epis went to his office to the those statistics to share with the group.

The remainder of the group discussed, in general, various aspects of selling the bond issue to the community.

Judge Epis returned with the statistics and gave copies to the Board. The statistics showed that traffic court is down by seven percent, DUI’s are down by nine percent, misdemeanors are down by twenty-two percent, and juvenile cases are down by fifty-five percent. In the Magistrate Court for 2002 there were 8,000 cases and in 2003 there were 7,500 cases. In the District Court for 2002 there were 265 cases and in 2003 there were 232 cases. Judge Epis stated one good thing

about the statistics is that they show the programs we have going in the County are working because cases are down.


In-house video arraignments were discussed. Judge Epis stated that once the new jail is built, most arraignments could be done by video for the first appearance. There was also discussion, that in the old jail facility several cells could be utilized for inmates making court appearances. There was discussion on the square footage of the current jail. Sheriff Layher stated that the old building would still be used because the Sheriff’s Office will operate out of it. The jail only utilizes about one-sixth of the building.

Motion by Ireland, second by Egusquiza-Stanek to adjourn.
EGUSQUIZA-STANEK - AYE
ROSE - AYE
IRELAND - AYE Motion carried and so ordered.

/S/ MARY EGUSQUIZA-STANEK, Chairperson
ATTEST: /S/ GAIL L. BEST, Clerk