Buchanan County jail population reaching pre-pandemic levels

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After the pandemic led to prisons and jails lowering their inmate population, some are back to seeing their numbers higher than pre-COVID-19. 

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said while inmate population counts haven’t led to the local jail reaching capacity, there has been a rise. 

“During the course of the pandemic, population numbers at jails across the nation dropped due to a variety of factors," Puett said. “Now we’re starting to see higher incarceration rates, about a 40 to 50 person increase from those COVID numbers to where we are today.” 

The Buchanan County Jail saw a daily average population of 140 inmates during 2022-2023. In 2024, that number rose to 160, and as of March 2025, the jail is seeing over 180 inmates. 

There are several reasons for the rise in population but changes to bond rules have had a substantial impact. 

“Most nonviolent and lower-classification criminals are not typically kept in jail, those individuals are allowed low bonds or no bonds,” Puett said. “Now we have a higher degree of violence and felons that are incarcerated in these county jails awaiting trial and those incarcerated on more violent felonies, violent drug felonies or any of the higher-end felonies don't qualify for those reduced-bond rules.” 

While a rise in inmate population creates difficulties for staff, Puett said the jail will continue cooperating with courts and incarcerating as many inmates as possible to keep criminals off the street. 

“If people are going to go out and victimize our citizens, then jail is the best place for them,” Puett said. “We will find a place for them in the jail and make sure that they are housed here until the courts can deal with them.”