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An investigation into alleged misconduct by staff members at the Daggett County jail — in which two corrections officers have been fired and the jail commander resigned — has been turned over to the Utah attorney general's office for review.
In February, the Utah Department of Corrections moved more than 80 state inmates out of the jail — emptying the facility — after Daggett County Sheriff Jerry Jorgensen learned of "inappropriate behavior" by employees. Specific details about the alleged misconduct have not been released.
But on Friday, Department of Corrections Executive Director Rollin Cook said in a written statement that the case "involves multiple, distressing allegations among line staff and command staff in the Daggett County jail. These are serious, criminal allegations, involving unprofessional conduct and unacceptable correctional practices, which put the inmates and the public in jeopardy."
Cook said that his department had turned over its completed investigation to the attorney general's office for screening of potential charges.
He said the timing of the case's completion and its release will be determined by the attorney general's office, adding that the FBI and Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training will also receive the finished probe.
"Because of the gravity of the allegations and the possible involvement at many levels of the Daggett County Sheriff's Office, the case deserves a thorough and careful review, which will take time," Cook said.
According to Department of Corrections records, Daggett County was paid about $1.35 million for inmate housing services in fiscal 2016. That money accounted for nearly 30 percent of the county's revenue.
Cook acknowledged "the significant financial impact the removal of state inmates has to the county and its citizens, and we are committed to working with the county leadership to come to a resolution."
The state inmates were transferred from the jail to the state prison, and will remain there for the time being, Cook said.
"Current Sheriff's Office command staff continue to be subjects of the investigation, and we remain apprehensive about returning inmates to the jail under its current culture," Cook said. "State inmates will not be returned to the jail at this time. Future administrative actions will factor in our decision making for potential inmate placement."
Susie Potter, a spokeswoman for the Daggett County Sheriff's Office, said in February that the allegations do not involve drugs or sex — which are common problems in jails — and that "we don't believe the inmates were ever in some kind of danger."
Sheriff's and DOC officials met April 11 to discuss findings in the investigation and the two officers, who had been put on leave in February, were fired as a result of the initial report, Potter said in a Wednesday news release.
Daggett County sits out on the state lines with Wyoming and Colorado and has a population of 1,127, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.