Cole County Jail voices concerns about lack of resources

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Cole County Jail is holding 14 inmates who have been court-ordered for psychiatric care, but officials are saying they do not have enough facility resources to provide mental health care to inmates.

In a Facebook post by Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler, the Cole County Jail has 160 inmates, and 14 of them have been found incompetent to stand trial. Two of the 14 have been determined permanently incompetent.

Wheeler said that one inmate has been waiting since March 19, 2025, and another since April 19, 2025.

Those inmates have been court-ordered to a Missouri Department of Mental Health facility. However, there is a shortage of psychiatric beds, so those inmates are still located in the Cole County Jail, waiting for a spot in a facility.

Emily Loesch with the Missouri Department of Mental Health said that statewide 560 people are waiting for admission into the DMH. Of those 560 people, 132 are on bond in the community.

Loesch said the average wait time for admission is approximately 14 months.

Wheeler said that the Department of Mental Health provides counseling services to the inmates, but the facility is not staffed or equipped to deliver extensive care to the inmates.

"Our facility is not designed or staffed to provide the level of psychiatric care these individuals require. As a result, several continue to decompensate while awaiting placement in an appropriate treatment facility. Their care requires extensive staff time, specialized attention, and additional resources, placing an even greater burden on an already overextended workforce," wrote Wheeler in the Facebook post.

Because the jail is operating beyond capacity, Cole County is paying to send 26 additional inmates to outside facilities, which is about $1,300 per day or $39,000 per month.

Wheeler said that those inmates weren't sent to various counties like Moniteau, Callaway, and Osage. But, to send inmates to stay in these seperate counties it costs Cole County everyday.

“Those organizations charge me so they don't hold them for free. So, on average, it's about $50 a day per inmate," said Wheeler.

As of last year, Wheeler spent around $452,000 to house inmates. He said based on the trends he is seeing this year is looking to cost roughly $502,000 for inmate housing.

"Cole County taxpayers are bearing the financial burden of these delays," wrote Wheeler.

Wheeler said it is possible to expand the Cole County jail but that would cost more money that they do have.

“I do have an area in my facility that I can build out. Another 160 beds  is what we need to do, but that's going to cost about $38 million and we're going to have to go back to the citizens for sales tax to be able to build that out. “

Cole County judges have done their legal duties by issuing the commitment orders, and Wheeler wrote that the issues are not with them.

"The challenge is not with the courts — it is with the lack of available placement and timely action by the Department of Mental Health," wrote Wheeler.

Wheeler also says that if the 14 inmates waiting to be sent to a Mental Health facility were transferred, that "would significantly reduce costs to Cole County taxpayers."

The issues for the jail go beyond overcrowding and costs, according to Wheeler. He says it is important to ensure inmates receive timely treatment in places with the resources to meet their needs.

Wheeler said that there are two solutions: first, for the State of Missouri to add more beds for psychiatric care. And second, for the state to pay the jail for the time frame inmates are in jail after they are committed.

Loesch said the DMH is not able to make any further comment on this matter because of pending litigation.