Bourbon County jail to get more beds for inmates

Bourbon County, Kan. -- In a constant battle with overcrowding, the Southeast Regional Correctional Center has found a temporary alternative.

Jail administrator Jimmy Nichols addressed the Bourbon County Commission Nov. 15 requesting to purchase four bunk beds to prevent the need to send inmates to another county. The jail can currently house 50 inmates.

"We're really trying to, in our very limited situation ... We are trying to expand the housing," Nichols said. "We are really, really at our limit."

Nichols said that there is currently only one inmate housed outside the county and that it is because the inmate has several requests for detention from other counties. He added that anytime an increase in arrests occurs, jail staff has to scramble to find room.

"We're trying to come up with some alternate plans on possibly expanding our housing with the use of these bunk beds," he said. "It's a daily fight to find bed space."

The beds will be purchased from Charmtex for $2,527 and will increase the housing capacity of the jail by eight. Nichols said inmates who agree to move into the housing area, which will be a smaller area, will be allowed more time in the larger recreational area.

Nichols said the past month saw an increase in arrests and that several inmates had to be sent to Cherokee County. He said the cost for the month is likely to exceed $10,000. Despite having to house some inmates out of county since March, Nichols said the jail has been able to operate "substantially" under budget.