DENVER (KDVR) — The Weld County Sheriff’s Office, alongside 16 other sheriffs in Colorado, wrote to Gov. Jared Polis calling for a resolution to the Colorado Department of Corrections’ inmate transfer backlog.

The 17 sheriffs sent a joint letter to Polis on July 10, telling the governor that the ongoing inmate transfer backlog and inadequate per diem reimbursement rate for DOC-sentenced inmates “are placing an unsustainable burden on our jail operations and local taxpayers.”

The sheriffs accused the DOC of failing to assume custody of sentenced individuals “in a timely manner,” creating backlogs in county jails. The sheriffs also pointed to the delays of court-ordered mental health evaluations and transfers to the state hospital, which is also adding to resource strain and overcrowding.

“County jails were never intended — nor funded — to house state inmates for prolonged periods,” the letter to Polis states. “Yet, across Colorado, counties are being forced to expand housing capacity and increase staffing simply to keep up with the rising number of inmates who should already be in state custody.”

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office said that when looking at available data for its jail last year, it cost approximately $185.51 per day to house a single inmate at the Weld County Jail. The state reimburses $77.16 each day for an inmate in the DOC backlog, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office said.

The sheriff’s office said that the state reimbursement “barely covers” 41% of inmate housing costs.

The sheriffs are urging the governor to:

Speed up and reduce the DOC transfer backlog by using emergency bed capacity or contracted facilities

Adjust the per diem reimbursement rate to reflect the county’s costs

Improve the capacity of mental health treatment facilities to manage court-ordered evaluations and transfers

Meet with Colorado sheriffs to identify and implement joint solutions

“This has been a systemic issue that has only gotten worse under the Polis administration. At some point, this State must prioritize keeping the citizens safe by running an effective prison system,” said Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams in a post on X.

The letter to the Governor was signed by sheriffs in El Paso, Teller, Pueblo, Douglas, Lake, Weld, Cheyenne, Montrose, Gilpin, Otero, Fremont, Grand, Archuleta, Kit Carson, Conejos, Garfield, and Costilla counties.

The Colorado Governor’s Office said that it agrees with the sentiments expressed by the sheriffs. It provided this statement to FOX31 about the letter.

“Governor Polis agrees with the letter and looks forward to working with sheriffs to tackle the backlog. The governor finds their suggestions helpful and consistent with his own thinking, and is committed to making Colorado safer for everyone. Governor Polis is committed to making Colorado safer, is in regular contact with local law enforcement, and appreciates feedback from sheriffs to strengthen the partnership between the Department of Corrections and County Sheriff Offices. The State of Colorado continues to face a difficult budget environment, exacerbated by federal cuts, and the Governor is focused on ensuring that DOC has enough resources and bed capacity to address the issues that state and counties are facing. The Governor is always open to discussions about how the state and local law enforcement can partner to make Colorado safer and hopes to partner with sheriffs to find solutions to resolve the backlog and keep Colorado communities safe.”

Colorado Governor’s Office

FOX31 also reached out to the Colorado Department of Corrections for its stance on the letter and received another lengthy statement. The agency said that it “understands and shares the concerns” raised in the letter, and is working with the sheriffs, the governor’s office and the Colorado General Assembly.

“Public safety across Colorado is our primary mission, and that is a responsibility we share with the sheriffs,” the DOC said. “The Department remains committed to ensuring the safe and appropriate placement of inmates during the intake process. We recognize the strain this backlog places on local facilities and continue to prioritize solutions that are both operationally effective and sustainable.”

The DOC went on to say that it is working on budget and policy discussions with state leadership, and said that the funding to address the growing backlog of inmates is complex.

“Addressing this issue will require finding a meaningful solution,” the Colorado DOC wrote.