Moscow, Idaho – In light of the recent closure of the Latah County Jail due to failed inspections, Latah County is running a Jail Community Survey. The survey seeks the input and feedback of Latah County residents to help inform and guide Jail planning. The Sheriff’s Office is inviting all County residents to provide feedback.


The Latah County Jail, located in the basement of the County Courthouse Building, was built in 1973 and has remained relatively unchanged in its 53 years. Some minor upgrades have been made, including ADA renovations to some cells in 2015.


In 2025, the Jail failed both a reinspection performed by the Moscow Fire Department and an inspection performed by the Idaho Sheriff’s Association. These inspections showed facility concerns including fire detection and suppression systems, electrical concerns, cells below mandatory standard size, ADA requirements, staff and inmate safety, and plumbing failures.
In a proactive move to ensure community involvement, the Latah County Commissioners and the Sheriff have created this survey as part of a public education and input effort to help residents understand the situation and provide feedback to the County on possible solutions and funding options. It is available online on both the Latah County and Sheriff’s official websites. Additionally, for those active on social media, links to the survey will be shared across the Latah County and Sheriff’s Office social media channels.


So far, 698 respondents have taken the survey. The survey is being administered by the County’s municipal advisor, Clearwater Financial, and as such all responses are anonymous to the County.


The Latah County Sheriff’s Office encourages every resident to participate in this survey. This is an opportunity for the community to learn about the Jail, have their voices heard, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of public safety in Latah County. If any community groups would like a tour of the Jail they can contact Captain Shane Anderson.


The survey can be accessed at https://bit.ly/LatahCountyJailSurvey


Latah County Jail Project Webpage: https://projects.latahcountyid.gov/jail-facility-upgrade/


For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Captain Shane Anderson, Latah County
shanderson@latahcountyid.gov
(208) 882.2216 Ext. 1320