Boone County Jail overcrowding costs climb amid Department of Mental Health backlog

Boone County Jail overcrowding costs climb amid Department of Mental Health backlog

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to house inmates in jails across Mid-Missouri, as local officials continue to struggle with overcrowding and a growing backlog of detainees awaiting mental health evaluations. From Jan.-10May 23, the county had spent $461,235 to house detainees in other counties, according to Capt. Brian Leer of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. “Currently, we are paying to house 113…