HELENA — The Lewis and Clark County Detention Center houses more than 100 inmates, and when fully staffed, around 60 people run the facility, but right now, staffing numbers are significantly low.

The detention center is currently authorized to have 59 employees, but is operating with just thirty.

(Sheriff Leo Dutton explains the jail situation) Lewis and Clark County Detention Center facing significant staffing shortages

For Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, this raises a very large concern.

“Well, officer safety," Dutton says. "If you are short-staffed, you have to double up on say court duty, and you have to double up on booking, and those are safety issues.”

Because of the extreme shortage, employees are having to put in extra time.

“People that are working there are

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