DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials at a central Iowa jail want to open three empty housing units amid an increase in inmates, but county supervisors hope for other efforts to reduce the jail population. The Des Moines Register reports that Polk County Jail has seen a daily average of more than 1,000 inmates this year.

Jail director Frank Marasco asked the county Board of Supervisors in May to open the three housing units and add an additional 15 detention officers to staff them. County supervisors hope to use deterrence efforts to prevent low-level offenders from ending up behind bars instead of granting the $1.1 million request.

Marasco says the safety of those in the jail is at risk until something is done to address the high number of inmates.