Flathead County Detention Center this weekend hit a record high with the number of inmates it houses at 136.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said overcrowding means tension levels are high and there are more fights among inmates.

“We’re literally almost physically out of room to put anybody,” Curry said Monday, including floor space. “Jail staff has been looking for alternative placements all day in surrounding counties — anyone that has space and no one usually does.”

Another option to ease the situation is releasing non-violent offenders, according to Curry.

The jail typically houses in excess of 100 prisoners daily in a space built to take in 63 prisoners at capacity.

“We are usually full. It’s been a significant problem as of late,” Curry said.

The county jail is currently undergoing a $1.3 million expansion to the adult detention center by renovating a portion of the Justice Center. Interior demolition has begun on the building, and Flathead County Administrator Mike Pence said the hope is to have the project completed by March.

The expansion, however, is a stopgap measure according to Curry and Pence, which is why officials are studying longterm solutions such as building a new jail.

“We’ve just received Community Development Block grant for $40,000 that’s going to be utilized in initial planning of a future jail space,” Pence said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].