Here's Why You Can't Go Directly to Jail in Kansas City, Missouri

Did you know there's no jail in Kansas City, Missouri? At least not one operated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department where arrestees will be held. There is the Jackson County Detention Center which is in Kansas City, but if you're arrested by the City you're not going to that jail.

I found this out while checking out "The 20 Most Dangerous Cities in America in 2022" from Money, Inc. Kansas City ranks at number 20 on the list. Their takeaway is that since the City doesn't have a jail it's one of the reasons violent crime is increasing. The thought of a major city not having a jail seemed rather absurd to me so I decided to do a little bit of research.

Apparently, a few years ago Jackson County wanted more money to house inmates from the Kansas City Police Department, and the City decided not to pay it. So inmates arrested by KCPD -- to the best of my knowledge - aren't housed at that facility. Yet, the City has to do something with arrestees that can't pay their bond or those that are remanded without bond, right?

Yes. According to the Kansas City Police Department website when you're arrested by Kansas City Police you're taken to one of three Patrol Division Detention Units and processed and given an opportunity to post bond. If you can't post bond, then you're transferred to a city-approved detention facility.

According to the Kansas City, Missouri website those approved facilities currently holding KCPD and KC Municipal Court-involved individuals are the Johnson County, Missouri Jail in Centerview and the Vernon County Jail in Nevada.

So yes, technically, Kansas City, Missouri has no jail. At least not the kind the KCPD can hold an inmate while that person's case winds itself through the court system.

That's why you can't go directly to jail in Kansas City, and you get a scenic ride to Centerview or Nevada before beginning your time at the graybar hotel.

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