about

The old Lafayette County Jail was capable of holding 72 inmates, though for safety reasons, the maximum number held was usually no more than 60. The jail was divided into three sections that allowed minimal separation of inmates. All persons arrested for crimes in Lafayette County were housed in the jail. We held those arrested for all of the local police agencies, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Conservation Department and all Federal agencies making arrests in our County. All inmate movements were done manually by deputies. The new facility will allow inmate movement to be done by remote electronic doors and video cameras that require little or no physical inmate handling, allowing for a safer working environment for the deputies. The jail is also responsible for inmate preparation for court appearances. Bailiffs (deputies assigned to work in the courts) monitor the inmate from the time they leave the jail until their return from court. As well, an extradition deputy travels around the country transporting Lafayette County inmates from other jurisdictions where they were arrested on Lafayette County warrants. The main objective of the jail is to provide a secure facility and insure a safe community. Their diligence is of the utmost importance. This is one of the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement.