What Cochise County Jail Was Built For — And What the November 2025 Vote Means for Families

The Cochise County Jail was originally designed to house 168 inmates. That number matters because it’s the baseline the building and its systems were planned around, from housing space to daily operations.

Today, the jail has been modified to hold as many as 302 inmates. In plain terms, the county is operating a facility that was built for a smaller population, but has been adjusted to fit significantly more people than its original design.

County materials describe the jail as a 40-year-old facility that has lasted twice its expected life, and they point to expensive maintenance, repair, and operational costs. The same county information also describes the facility as obsolete and raises significant staff safety and inmate safety concerns. According to the county, the Sheriff’s Office and county leadership worked with community members, public health and safety professionals, and finance experts to better understand the county’s jail needs.

On May 16, 2023, county voters approved the Jail District excise (sales) tax question in an all-mail special election. That vote is the key starting point for the funding conversation you’re hearing now.

In June 2025, the County adopted a resolution to end collection of the Jail District tax effective July 31, 2025. For families, this is a sign that the funding plan is in a pause-and-reset moment rather than moving forward uninterrupted.

A new in-person election to consider the Jail District excise (sales) tax is scheduled for November 4, 2025. If you have someone at Cochise County Jail - or you’re expecting a loved one to be booked there - this date is worth watching, because the outcome will shape what resources the county has for jail plans going forward.