Ada County's Growth: A Decade in Perspective
Ada County's population is surging and has grown by more than 38% since 2010.
Impact of Growth on Safety & Infrastructure
We're now around 545,000 residents and expected to exceed 600,000 within a decade. While the rise in population represents progress and development for our County, the last major expansion of our jail facilities was in 2003 when the population was around 325,000.
Population-to-Jail Capacity Ratio: Ada County’s jail infrastructure and housing capabilities have not increased in relation to the rise in the County’s population.
Infrastructure: With no infrastructural advancements in a decade, jail facilities are under strain. They were designed for a population smaller than what we have today and what is forecasted, as we remain one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation.
Safety Concerns: Overcrowding can lead to increased tensions within the inmate population, which can pose a threat to inmate and staff safety. Limited space can also mean reduced access to educational programs, which are crucial for inmate well-being and reintegration into society.
Ada County's growth story is a testament to its desirability. Maintaining adequately scaled and modernized jail facilities is critical to the Sheriff’s mission of ensuring Ada County is a safe place to live, work, and play.
