A state spending boost looks to have an impact on Minnesota jails.
Part of Minnesota' $700 million infrastructure package that was approved last week focuses on crowded Minnesota jails and adding bed space inside a state owned psychiatric hospital.
Hennepin County sheriff Dawanna Witt tell WCCO Radio's Adam and Jordana this includes individuals battling addiction and mental health issues.
"People can have a dual diagnosis where it's mental health and chemical health challenges, but, you know, as far as what do we need, again, we need to make sure that we're fully funded.
The goal would be to move these individuals out of regular jails, and into treatment facilities.
The Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center will be directly impacted by the funding and expansion, at a time Witt says Minnesota has been identified as a corridor for drug trafficking
"And we need to make sure that on every level that we continue to have funding to, again, combat people trying to prey on our residents here," says Witt.
State mandates require that individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses must be transferred into psychiatric care within 48 hours. That hasn't been feasible due to spacing issues.
It's also left county jails severely overcrowded. Last fall, Hennepin County was forced to move 180 inmates to other county jails because they ran out of room. Witt at the time said she was deeply concerned about the safety of both inmates and staff due to the space limitations.