Parts to replace parts of the old jail are difficult to find. Sheriff Jim Quattrone said to replace a toilet can cost $1,400 because of how old the jail is. File Photo by Gregory Bacon

Chautauqua County officials are being asked to consider an expansion to the county jail at a price tag of $120 million.

If you ask Sheriff Jim Quattrone, this is the best option.

In May, Labella Associates and Justice Planners presented their study for the county jail and recommended a $120 million expansion on the parking lot side. Once that’s completed, the 1939 portion of the jail would be torn down and that would be turned into a parking lot.

ADDING FLOORS

The current jail was constructed in 1939. An addition was installed in 1970 and another addition was added in 2006.

When the legislature approved the most recent expansion 20 years ago, it cost $16 million. There also had been an option to further expand it by adding floors but elected officials chose not to do so due to the cost, which would have meant an additional $5 million to $7 million.

“It probably would have been wise at that time, even if they had put the shell up,” Quattrone said in an interview this past week. “If they had added additional floors, it would have saved a lot of money down the road when you actually need it. And you could use it for other purposes.”

In 2013, The Post-Journal and OBSERVER published an article where former Undersheriff Charles Holder said the newer jail additions are built like “Lego blocks” that can be stacked upon one another. “If we want to expand we just add another level,” he said in the article.

To do that today, Quattrone said it would cost about $73 million and add around 62 beds.

The county jail has roughly 276 beds, depending on classifications.

The 1939 section has around 96 beds. If that were removed from the 276, there would be 180 beds. If the additional floors were added, which would provide 62 beds, that would total 242 beds.

The consultants recommended a jail with 224 beds, so the $73 million would actually meet that need.

But Quattrone doesn’t view that as a good option. “That section of the jail is 20 years old. If we do that, we’re going to end up in another 20 years having to do this whole process again,” he said.

He gave the example of their kitchen which was built 20 years ago. “That’s starting to fail. It’s used seven days a week constantly,” he said.

Another issue would be if additional floors were to be added to the newest addition, inmates who are currently housed there would have to be moved elsewhere during construction.

LAKEVIEW SHOCK

In Brocton is the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility, a medium security facility operated by the state.

State law does not permit county jail inmates to be housed at state correctional facilities, except for very rare circumstances. “We would have to get permission from the Commission of Corrections,” Quattrone said.

The county has had its inmates be housed there for unique reasons, often due to mental health issues, but said it’s very rare. “Only about one or two a year,” Quattrone said.

When the state does house a county jail inmate, every month the inmate’s case must be reviewed to determine if that person can continue to stay.

In 2010, a memo produced by the Brocton-Portland Development Corporation noted that at that time an 82,000 square foot section was not being used and it was separate from the Shock Facility.

Thomas Mailey with the state Department Of Corrections and Community Supervision said the Annex isn’t used to hold prisoners anymore, but the state does use it for other purposes. “It’s still in use by New York State DOCCS,” he said during a phone call interview.

Quattrone said the problem is that state prisons are made differently than county jails. “Brocton Shock has very few cells,” he said.

Inmates there stay in barracks that are designed like a military base.

Mailey confirmed this statement. “It’s more of a shock camp,” he said.

Quattrone is also concerned because the state has a lot of problems staffing its correctional facilities and questions if they have the ability to house county inmates. “I’d be hesitant, and the biggest reason right now is the state of crisis that the state prison system is dealing with right now,” he said.

As of Wednesday, when the interview with Quattrone took place, he said the county jail had 26 inmates who should be in a state prison, but the state is unable to take them. “Until New York state can figure out their own issues at the state level, I’m not comfortable about sending our inmates to a state facility,” he said.

Even if Lakeview Shock Facility permanently closed and the county received it from the state, Quattrone doesn’t think it could be retrofitted. “Quite frankly, I think the most appropriate way would be to demo what’s there and build new,” he said.

OTHER COUNTIES

During the May legislature meeting, Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, said that if the 1939 section can no longer be used, the inmates who would normally be staying there could be sent to other counties, specifically the sentenced inmates.

Quattrone said he doesn’t know if the state would allow the county to house all sentenced inmates elsewhere, but generally that’s only about 10-20% of the jail population. The remainder still must make court appearances and would have to be transported. “That creates a dangerous situation for those transporting and a dangerous situation for those who are incarcerated. Any time we’re transporting or escorting people inside the building or outside the building adds to the level of dangerousness,” he said.

When the Sheriff’s Office is transporting an incarcerated individual, they must use two deputies.

He said they have an agreement with Cattaraugus County that each county can hold each others’ inmates if needed at a cost of around $110 a day. But if Chautauqua County needed to house dozens of inmates elsewhere, he doesn’t know if they’re prepared to handle that many inmates. Then if Cattaraugus isn’t available, they would be looking elsewhere throughout Western New York, which the counties’ deputies would be required to transport back and forth.

NEW JAIL

The county jail has been at its current location since 1811 before the village of Mayville was established. But even with this history, the consultants did look at what it would cost to build a new jail today.

The consultants looked at building a brand new jail that would hold 156 beds and another jail that would hold 288 beds. The 156 bed jail was expected to cost $170 million while the 288 bed jail would cost around $235 million.

Quattrone emphasized that those costs are very preliminary and did not include concept drawings.

TIMELINE

Because the cost of construction continues to go up so quickly, Quattrone would like to see the legislature move forward sooner than later.

The 1939 portion of the jail is among the oldest jails currently in use in the state. Quattrone said the Office of Corrections has not told the county it can’t use the oldest portion of the jail yet, but the older it gets the more likely it could issue such a ruling.

Even if the state doesn’t shut down the old portion immediately, maintenance costs continue to mount.

As an example, Quattrone said a toilet in the old jail can cost $1,200 to $1,400 to replace. “You’re just throwing good money after bad. We’re taking all this money and we’re no further ahead,” he said.

Right now, Quattrone said he’s looking at holding a community forum possibly in June or July for Mayville residents, although anyone can attend.

He would like to see the county legislature give its approval in the next few months.

Should the legislature agree on the $120 million expansion, Quattrone said it’s going to be another 12-18 months of design work. The construction work itself could take a few years to complete.

Quattrone’s term is up at the end of 2026. He hasn’t decided yet if he’ll run again and there’s no guarantee he’ll win.

Should he be elected for another term in office, Quattrone said he expects the construction to take the rest of his time in office. “The biggest possibility is that I might see it opened,” he said.

Even though he could easily avoid a jail construction during his tenure, he said he wants to see it done now. “Quite frankly, it’s easier for me to ignore it. It’s less work, it’s less headaches, but I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.