Marion County Jail
4000 Aumsville Hwy. SE, Salem, OR 97317
The Marion County Jail (MCJ) is a massive, 151,000 square foot structure housing 528 inmates. Originally built in 1989 with a capacity of 255 inmates, the facility has expanded over the years to better handle the ever increasing inmate load. In 1998, the facility underwent an expansion of 128 beds. The design of the facility allows for ever-increasing expansion and could accommodate nearly 1,000 inmates without compromising the infrastructure or support services of the institution.
The facility is a "direct supervision" jail, wherein deputies are assigned inside the inmate housing units. This management philosophy allows deputies to be proactive in the day to day operations of the jail. As a result, inmates are directly supervised while in custody and problems can be identified and immediately handled. Marion County is one of approximately 200 jails nationwide to employ this type of management style and it has proven to be extremely effective.
MCJ books approximately 19,000 people per year. In addition to those being booked, the facility houses inmates awaiting trial, inmates sentenced for one year or less, inmates being held for federal authorities and inmates sentenced to a state correctional facility/penitentiary. The facility also operates as a hub for prisoner exchange. Other jails throughout the state bring prisoners to Marion County to be transported/transferred to other facilities throughout the state and neighboring states. This system keeps transportation costs down and is reflected in a direct savings to the county budget.
The facility operates the most intensive civilian volunteer program in the state. More than 112 citizen volunteers provide a complete array of services at little or no cost to taxpayers that are designed to assist inmates with problems or reintroduce them back into society. The facility has daily, ongoing religious programs as well as classes on parenting skills, anger management, N/A, A/A, Drug & Alcohol Programs and a GED Program. It is our vision that offenders will be returned to society as law abiding and contributing citizens.
Part of the direct supervision management philosophy is based on positive inmate behavior that allows certain inmates expanded (limited) privileges based on behavior. Examples of privileges include, inmate commissary, less restrictive living environments, greater out of cell time and/or being allowed to participate in programs and work projects. Programs including alcohol and drug, educational, anger management, Changing Directions and Path Finders are only a few of the many programs inmates may be involved in. Inmate work programs within the facility are designed to reduce costs associated with operating the facility. Inmates work in the kitchen, laundry and perform janitorial services throughout the facility to keep overall costs to a minimum.