LA GRANDE — There may be a sense of deja vu going around in Union and Wallowa counties.

The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office is again sending its inmates to the Union County Correctional Facility for the first time since 2018. Wallowa County inmates began arriving at the Union County Correctional Facility earlier this month after a contract between the two law enforcement agencies took effect Saturday, July 1.

Previously, Wallowa County’s inmates were being sent to the Umatilla County Correctional Facility, Pendleton.

“Things are going well,” said Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen.

He said the Union County Correctional Facility has received approximately three inmates from Wallowa County since the contract went into effect.

Wallowa County Sheriff Joel Fish said the move is having a positive impact on his deputies. Inmates are no longer being transported 107 miles to Pendleton, easing the workload on his deputies. He noted the impact of the longer drives to Umatilla County was compounded by the fact they were made at odd hours.

“A lot of these trips are made late at night,” he said.

Bowen said the shorter distance to La Grande will be especially appreciated in the winter when driving conditions are often poor.

Fish said he believes inmates also prefer the shorter drive since it means less time wearing constraints.

“I know they must like it better because it means they do not have to wear handcuffs as long,” he said.

Bowen agrees, however, he doubts that inmates have a preference in terms of jails in La Grande and Pendleton, since their conditions are similar.

“The beds and the food are the same,” he said.

The Union County Correctional Facility is projected to have space available for Wallowa County inmates in part because of changes in Oregon laws, including Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of some drugs. Measure 110 was approved by Oregon voters in 2020. Bowen said Measure 110 has reduced the Union County Correctional Facility’s need for jail space significantly.

The Union County Correctional Facility has a 37-bed capacity. The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office has a holding facility where inmates can be kept for a limited time.

Union County housed Wallowa County’s inmates for many years until five years ago when issues involving previous administrators resulted in a switch.

Wallowa County will pay $180,000 in 2023-24 to send inmates to the Union County Correctional Facility, Bowen said. This will allow Wallowa County to have a maximum of six inmates a day housed at the Union County Correctional Facility, at a rate of $82 per day.

Union County Commissioner Donna Beverage said she is pleased with how the program is working out.

“It is great for us and Wallowa County,” she said.

Beverage noted it saves Wallowa County money and reduces the amount of time its sheriff’s office staff must travel, and it brings money into Union County.

“We are capable of managing this for them and are glad to do it,” she said. “It is a win-win for both counties.”