Sarasota County Jail Approaching a Crisis Situation

Key Information

• Current Jail Population: Approximately 1,100 inmates, projected to increase by 100 this year.
• Condition of Facilities: Outdated design; some parts date back to the 1940s.
• Overcrowding Issues: Cells often have three inmates in confined spaces; maintenance causes further blockage.
• Potential Costs: Sending inmates to other facilities could cost between $10 million and $30 million annually.
• Future Plans: Consideration for a new jail at an estimated cost of $700 million, pending a vote by Sarasota County residents.

“We are behind the 8-ball, for sure,” says sheriff’s office Maj. Brian Meinberg, who oversees the jail.

“What we’ve seen since 2020 with COVID is that our population has exponentially increased,” he stated, pointing out the strain on the jail’s resources.

Meinberg took ABC7 inside to reveal the current conditions, starting in the oldest part of the jail.

He expressed that the outdated design in the West Wing, which opened 50 years ago, complicates the supervision of inmates during rounds.

“This is an archaic design. Jails aren’t built like this anymore. This is a 1940s-’30s design,” he noted.

The aging facilities exacerbate overcrowding, as maintenance often requires closing certain cell blocks, forcing inmates into the remaining areas.

“We have to have three people in a very small, confined cell. You can’t even really get off these bunks without stepping on the person beneath you that’s sleeping on the floor,” Meinberg explained.

With the current population around 1,100, there’s an anticipated increase in the coming year, which will necessitate makeshift accommodations and possibly portable bunks.

However, there’s a much more costly alternative looming. “We, more than likely, will end up sending inmates to another facility because we just don’t have the capability to house them,” Meinberg remarked.

He highlighted that estimates show it could cost between $10 million and $30 million annually to send inmates elsewhere, despite the efforts of diligent staff working behind the scenes.

“They are truly making a difference. If it wasn’t for them and our programming component, we would have a lot more people in this jail right now,” Meinberg emphasized.

Another option under consideration is constructing a new jail and criminal justice center, which could come with a price tag of $700 million. This proposal will likely undergo a vote by Sarasota County residents during the midterm elections next year.