Cass County Jail considers freeing low-risk inmates to make space during virus outbreak Tuesday, March 17, 2020
West Fargo Pioneer
The Cass County Jail could release low-risk inmates to make room at its facility amid a worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
The jail in Fargo has already implemented several measures to prevent its staff and 276 inmates from coming in contact with the virus, Sheriff Jesse Jahner said Monday, March 16, during a County Commission meeting. That includes limiting visitors into the jail, establishing a screening process for incoming inmates and postponing programs that allow inmates in and out of the facility.
The Cass County State’s Attorney's Office, district judges and jail have been in talks on how to not only limit the number of new inmates but seeing if low-risk inmates can be released, State’s Attorney Birch Burdick said.