Jail History
The Muskegon County Jail has a long and complicated history that dates back to 1972, when the earliest reference to jail overcrowding was made, just 12 years after the jail was built. Over the years, the overcrowding problem worsened, leading to a class-action lawsuit by Muskegon County Jail inmates in 1990. Kent County Judge Dennis C. Kolenda took control of the jail’s capacity and operations, and the judges and law enforcement officers in Muskegon County discussed, debated, and went to court over deteriorating conditions at the old jail and the need for more space.
CLICK HERE to Search for Incarcerated Friends or Family Members
The New Muskegon County Jail
After decades of discussion, the new Muskegon County Jail opened in 2015, providing relief not only to those working in criminal justice but also to the Muskegon community. The new jail has its own medical offices, laundry, and kitchen that produces over 200,000 meals a year. With 544 beds, it has almost 50% more capacity than the old facility.
A Complicated History
The history of the Muskegon County Jail is a complicated one. The new jail was built after decades of overcrowding, and a class-action lawsuit by inmates in 1990 led to the court taking control of the jail’s capacity and operations. In 1998, a consent judgment was agreed upon by the county, judges, and sheriff, calling for more jail space. A low-security annex was built in the basement of the Hall of Justice to make space, expanding the capacity to 352-388 inmates by 1999. But overcrowding remained an issue, with the jail granting early release to a record 2,216 inmates in 2005.
A Political Consensus on the Jail
With the 2009 hire of county administrator Bonnie Hammersley, Muskegon County commissioners were finally able to address jail overcrowding. The county board of commissioners, led by Ken Mahoney, sold nearly $39 million in bonds to help pay for the project, one of the largest public bond sales in Michigan after Detroit’s bankruptcy. The new Muskegon County Jail and Juvenile Transition Center has a guaranteed construction price of $37.2 million, with engineering/architecture fees and finance charges related to the bond sale putting the project’s total cost closer to $45 million.
The Cost of Crime
Without a tax to pay off $39 million in 20-year bonds, the sheriff and county administration will soon have to find funds sufficient for paying for the new facility. Roesler has an agreement with the Michigan Department of Corrections to reserve 100 beds in the new jail for MDOC parolees, which is budgeted to bring in $1,198,000 in new revenue during financial year 2016. At the same time, expenses are rising, with $796,000 more for inmates’ health services. The new jail is expected to be budget-neutral for 2016.
Features Designed for Safety and Wellbeing
The new jail is built with features designed for the safety and wellbeing of inmates and sheriff’s deputies. Sheriff Roesler hopes the public appreciates the progress made with the new facility. The jail was built to be more efficient, with pods of cells set out like spokes from central observation points, increasing visibility so the same number of guards can watch more prisoners. Video conferencing systems and a better design for inmate movement means guards won’t need to spend as much time supervising inmate movement. The design is also more conducive to programming and educational opportunities in the jail and a good re-entry programming going for re-entry to the community.