(FREMONT COUNTY, Colo.) — The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) is addressing the Department of Corrections (DOC) inmate transfer backlog, days after various sheriffs across Colorado called on Governor Jared Polis to take action.
On July 10, 17 sheriffs sent Governor Polis a joint letter over the ongoing transfer backlog and inadequate per diem reimbursement rate for DOC-sentenced inmates. The letter 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.
According to FCSO, the backlog impacts not only the sheriff’s office but the community as well, as they allegedly place “an unsustainable burden” on your operations and local taxpayers.
“County jails were never designed—or funded—to house state inmates for extended periods,” the Colorado Sheriffs stated in the letter. “Yet we’re being forced to expand capacity and stretch already limited staff to accommodate inmates who should be in state custody. This isn’t just unsustainable—it’s unfair to local taxpayers.”
The sheriff’s office said that operating costs at the FCSO Jail in 2024 are approximately $130 per day to house one inmate at the Fremont County Jail. The state only reimburses $77.16 a day for one inmate in their backlog, which, according to FCSO, leaves a $52.84 deficit that must be paid by Fremont County and taxpayers.
The coalition of sheriffs is asking the Governor to take the following immediate actions:
Accelerate and reduce the DOC transfer backlog by using emergency bed capacity or contracted facilities.
Adjust the per diem reimbursement rate to reflect true county costs.
Enhance the capacity of mental health treatment to effectively manage court-ordered evaluations and transfers.
Meet with Colorado sheriffs to collaborate, identify, and implement joint solutions.
Earlier in July, the Governor’s Office told FOX31, FOX21’s sister station, that the governor was looking forward to working with sheriffs to tackle the backlog. The DOC also replied that they were looking forward to working together.
