Adams County receives more money for jail project

RITZVILLE — Adams County has received an additional $2 million through the federal appropriations process for upgrades at the Adams County Jail. Adams County Commissioner Dan Blankenship said the money will help pay for the second phase of jail improvements. 

“We can make the improvements that will make the place a way, way, safer place to work,” Blankenship said.  

The jail was closed in 2022, following one inmate’s attack on another inmate that left that inmate and a corrections officer severely injured. Adams County previously received $2.6 million in funding for the first phase. The first phase is projected to start this spring, with demolition of the existing interior scheduled for April. 

County officials will have to contribute some matching money, which Blankenship estimated at about $230,000, to be eligible for the $2 million. 

“We will have (the matching money) when the time comes,” he said. “I’m fairly certain of that.” 

The original $2.6 million appropriation will pay for the structural work, Blankenship said. 

Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said in an earlier interview that the new jail will be remodeled to eliminate the dormitory-like rooms that house male inmates and hold eight to 10 people. The existing jail has two dormitory spaces. 

“Those are now going to be one big, huge room with about eight cells. Each individual cell will house two inmates. (There will be room for) 16 inmates in cells that hold two each,” Wagner said. “With that, you can let people out (of the cells) two at a time rather than 10 at a time.” 

The women’s section of the jail will also be remodeled. The area where people are held on felony charges is also a separate space, and it will stay separate, Wagner said.