AURORA — Several cities in Adams County are fighting the county’s plans to limit the number of prisoners facing municipal charges who are housed in the county jail.
First, Westminster decided to classify municipal charges in county court. Then Thornton did the same.
Aurora on Monday night moved in that direction as well, meaning most municipal charges except for domestic violence will be filed with the county court instead of the city’s court.
That would require Adams County to house those inmates at no extra cost to Aurora.
Adams County had hoped the cities would have taken a “soft cap” option. Aurora would have been given only four beds in any one day at the county jail under that option when it averages about 20 a day. More than four would cost $55 for each inmate.
Adams County wants to close three inmate pods in a cost-cutting move. Cities had a deadline of today to state their intentions to the county.
Councilwoman Melissa Miller said the folks in north Aurora, which is in Adams County, already pay a sales tax to house inmates at the county’s detention center. They’ll feel it the most if the soft cap is implemented, she said.
Under Adams County’s proposal, the city would have been forced to release some criminals because of the limits at the county jail.
“It blows my mind people are balancing the budget on public safety,” Miller said at an Aurora City Council work session Monday night.
The council considered several options, including sending inmates to other facilities, such as the Denver jail.
Councilwoman Barb Cleland said Adams County proposing a limit on city inmates was like “dropping a hammer on us.” Aurora was informed of Adams County’s intentions in July.
“Our citizens paid for that jail. Our citizens continue to pay for that jail,” Cleland said.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
