Lt. Kyle Hutchison collects the name tags of people who have left the Kootenai County Jail staff and pins them to what he calls "the most expensive lampshade ever." Staffing and retention is a challenge in the jails, where a lack of deputies and the high volume of inmates exacerbate challenges when mental health episodes occur.
December 10, 2022
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December 10, 2022 1:08 a.m.
Mental health incidents challenge jail staff
Deputies prioritize de-escalation when situations arise
Resources are strained at the Kootenai County jail as staff deal with inmates experiencing mental health episodes that are often related to drug use.