ND county wants more money for oil-impacted jail

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A county on the fringe of North Dakota's booming oil patch says it's slipping through the cracks when it comes to funding for jails

Ward County officials told the House Appropriations Committee that jail overcrowding has led to some prisoners being released when they shouldn't.

County officials are pushing a bill that would allow them to obtain a $5.2 million grant to help expand the county jail in Minot.

Ward County has very little oil production but is heavily impacted because many companies and workers are based in Minot.

Burleigh County Sheriff Pat Heinert says he supports the additional funds for Ward County. But he says many other counties outside of the oil patch also are being impacted by development and need more funding for jail expansions.

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