Clay County, MN To Help Cass County, ND With Jail Overcrowding Issues

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) — Cass County Jail is busting at the seems with no relief expected until a 192-bed addition is finished in May or June.

Sheriff Jesse Jahner just got approval from Clay County Commission to temporarily board some prisoners in Moorhead at Clay County Correctional Facility.

Cass County Jail currently has a capacity of 348.

Jahner says there are currently anywhere from 15 to 25 inmates housed at different facilities in North Dakota.

He says it’s a struggle every day for law enforcement in Fargo.

“Really kind of a morale killer as they make arrests sometimes and they can’t bring people in to jail to help keep our community safe so of course we make those determinations based on public safety,” Jahner told the commission.

Commissioner Jenny Mongeau responded, “I’m really encouraged by the opportunity to keep these inmates closer to their support structures if they have them.”

Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting says the jail will take in 10 prisoners with the possibility of more.