Pope County Growth and Criminal Justice Challenges: A 40-Year Review
Population Growth and Jail Capacity
1980: Pope County had a population of 38,964.
1981: County Jail constructed with a capacity of 52 inmates.
1990: Population increased 19% to 46,190.
2000: Population grew another 18% to 54,537.
Jail expansion increased capacity to 172 inmates (146 male / 26 female).
2010: Population reached 61,754 (+13%).
2020: Population recorded at 63,381 (+3%), but actual population estimated at 85,000 due to a 75% Census participation rate.
Total Growth: County population has increased 118% since 1980.
Jail Overcrowding and Compliance Issues
2009–2024: The Criminal Detention Center Facilities Review Board (CDCFRB) has consistently found the county jail out of compliance due to overcrowding and lack of classification housing.
2020 Deadline: CDCFRB required Pope County to submit a written plan by December 2020 to address compliance issues or risk state-mandated oversight and potential closure.
Recent Jail Intake:
2023: 2,193 individuals processed.
2024: 1,886 individuals processed.
As of January 1, 2025:
10,901 active Misdemeanor Warrants.
$20,734,443.39 owed in fines & restitution.
Pope County 911 Operations
Facility History:
Constructed in 1993, operational since May 4, 1994.
Call Volume Growth:
1995: Handled 41,422 calls.
2024: Handled 150,283 calls (263% increase).
Since 2020: 953,619 calls handled, averaging 190,723 calls annually.
Currently processing 500+ calls per day.
Operational Overview:
Staffing: Director + 27 employees.
Annual Budget: $2,327,613.93.
Summary of Public Safety Proposal for Pope County
Key Proposal
Vote Date: May 13, 2025 (Early voting begins May 6th)
Proposal: Approval of a ¾ cent sales tax and bond issuance to fund the construction of a new jail and 911 call center.
Key Issues & Challenges
Population Growth
Pope County’s population has doubled since the jail was built in 1981, leading to increased strain on public safety services.
911 Call Volume
Call volume has increased 263% since 911 operations began in 1994.
The center now handles 190,000+ calls annually but faces space limitations due to its underground location.
Outstanding Warrants
As of 2025, the county has 10,901 active misdemeanor warrants.
$20.7 million in fines and restitution remains unpaid to victims.
Jail Overcrowding
Current jail lacks space, making it difficult to hold criminals accountable.
Call to Action
Support the sales tax and bond proposal to ensure public safety improvements for Pope County.
Pope County Public Safety and 911 Calls in 2024
911 Priority Calls in 2024
Violent Crimes & Assaults:
Rape – 27 calls
Sexual Assault – 34 calls
Sexual Misconduct – 71 calls
Robbery – 5 calls
Shooting – 3 calls
Assaults on Persons – 140 calls
Shots Fired – 169 calls
Stabbing – 5 calls
Stalking – 11 calls
Homicides – 5 in the past 4 years
Mental Health & Crisis Calls:
Suicidal Subjects – 370 calls
Barricaded Subjects – 9 calls
Property Crimes & Burglary:
Burglary – 363 calls
Vehicle Thefts – 137 calls
Disturbances & Domestic Incidents:
Total Disturbances – 2,030 calls
Disturbance Alcohol – 105 calls
Disturbance Domestic – 355 calls
Disturbance Injury – 66 calls
Disturbance Physical – 545 calls
Disturbance Verbal – 801 calls
Disturbance Weapons – 158 calls
County Tax Revenue and Funding
Approximately 50% of Pope County’s sales tax revenue comes from out-of-county sources.
Funding improvements in public safety could be achieved with less than a penny tax increase.
Public Safety Support
Multiple law enforcement and emergency agencies—including Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Russellville Police, Pottsville Police, Dover City Police, Russellville Fire Rescue, and 911 Communications—are working to enhance safety.
Advocacy for securing a safer Pope County is a priority to address crime rates and 911 call volume.
Understanding Pope County’s Sales Tax Distribution
Tax Breakdown
The 1-cent "County Tax" is not solely allocated to Pope County.
Only 40.67% of the tax goes directly to Pope County.
Russellville receives the largest share at 45.21%.
The remaining 14.12% is split among Atkins, Pottsville, Dover, London, and Hector, based on population size.
Cities in Pope County also have their own separate sales taxes (ranging from 1% to 2%) which they retain entirely.
This means cities benefit from both their local sales tax and the majority share of the County’s 1-cent tax.
This clarifies a common misconception—while labeled a "County Tax," a majority of its revenue actually goes to the cities within Pope County.
