EVERETT—The Snohomish County Council passed a motion Tuesday morning authorizing the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive Jail Efficiency Study. The study will be initiated and carried out in close partnership between the Snohomish County Council, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the County Executive’s Office, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring that Snohomish County jail operations follow best practices and fiscal stewardship.
“We are proud of the hard work of our corrections staff and that we have earned and maintained State Accreditation for our facility and operations, yet we always want to be proactive and seek actionable insights to improve efficiencies,” said Sheriff Susanna Johnson. “A Corrections labor contract that settled just before the 2025-2026 budget really drew attention to the structural deficit of the General Fund, as labor costs have outpaced revenues.”
The Council is advancing this effort jointly with the Sheriff’s Office in response to growing operational complexity and rising costs associated with jail services. Snohomish County currently allocates approximately 74% of its General Fund toward all law and justice responsibilities, which includes the courts, the clerk’s office, public defense, prosecutors, law enforcement, and corrections.
However, the Sheriff’s Correction Bureau (Jail) utilizes 20% of the General fund—see below. According to 2024 actuals, Snohomish County Jail operations expensed $66.597 million to a General Fund of $332.28 million.
“As we face a structural budget deficit and increasing demands on our public safety system, it’s critical that we take a closer look at how our jail operates and uses resources,” said Councilmember Nehring. “This study will help us work toward practical, data-driven ways to improve efficiency, support staff, and ensure we are delivering the best possible outcomes for our community.”
One avenue the County can look into is the cost per inmate. According to the Washington State Department of Corrections’ March 2025 Jail Rate Study Report, during the 2023 to 2024 years, the Snohomish County Jail had an averaged daily population of 576 inmates, this would equate to a 2024 full per diem (daily) cost per inmate of $316.77 for medical, food, contracted services, supplies, and other expenses. Outsourcing jail services to neighboring cities may reduce costs for the county.
Lynnwood operates its own smaller municipal jail that opened in 2024 with a new Lynnwood Crisis Center that opened on June 1. According to a 2025 jail service study by the City of Shoreline, the Lynnwood jail rate is $198 per inmate that covers the cost of incarceration, including accommodation, meals, basic medical services, visitation, etc. There is also a $100 one-time booking fee in some agreements.
“I’d like to thank Councilmember Nehring, the Executive’s Office, and the Council for supporting this effort to ensure resource and operational optimization while maintaining an efficient, safe, and secure facility,” said Sheriff Johnson. “As the third-largest jail in the state, we oversee a complex operation that includes mental health services, medical care, and broad responsibilities, so we are looking forward to collaborating to carry this study through to completion.”
The motion authorizes the Council Chief of Staff to work with the Snohomish County Sheriff and the County Executive’s Office to develop the RFP. Once the proposals are reviewed, a vendor will be selected to perform the study. Work is anticipated to begin by October 1, 2026, at a cost to not exceed $170,000.
Author: Mario Lotmore
