Continuing a services agreement that’s been in place for over 20 years, the Yelm City Council unanimously authorized Mayor Joe DePinto to continue contracting with the Nisqually Tribal jail.
Prior to the latest agreement, the old contract expired on Dec. 31, 2023, but an extension was signed through April 22, 2024.
“The City of Yelm has had a service agreement in place with the Nisqually Jail for more than 20 years,” Yelm Police Chief Rob Carlson said. “The agreement allows the City of Yelm to secure misdemeanor offenders within the Nisqually Jail, a location that’s convenient to the police department. The jail agreement with the Nisqually Jail has been a beneficial reduction jailbed cost for the city, as well as significantly reducing drive time for the officers.”
The new contract was reviewed by Yelm City Attorney Brent Dille, with recommendations from the Association of Washington Cities.
“The new contract ensures that City of Yelm inmates receive appropriate care while incarcerated in the Nisqually Jail facility,” Carlson said. “The daily bed rate will increase to $135 per day, per inmate.”
Carlson added that the new contract will provide “ultimate, unlimited guaranteed beds” per day through the term of the contract. The prior cost was $103.50, he said, but featured a $20 booking fee. The fee no longer exists.
