King County is preparing to offer a multi-year extension of contracts with the 36 cities it provides jail services to after a new analysis shows a decline in jail use.

The county has two jails, in Kent and in downtown Seattle.

The new analysis of jail bed use seems to indicate a trend where construction of new jail space can be slowed, allowing the cities and county more time to explore how best to meet future needs.

The county has seen a dramatic drop in felony bookings since late 2007, according to a county news release If the trend continues, the county’s two jails will reach capacity later than the original projection of 2012. In 2001, the county notified its contract cities that they would have to find other jail space after 2012.

All cities in the county, with the exception of Enumclaw, Kent and Milton contract with King County for jail space. Each facility would need approximately 640 inmate beds. The cities are planning construction of new jails, in the north part of the county and in the south. Renton has joined a consortium of other cities in South King County to build a jail in Des Moines.

“This drop in jail use gives us an opportunity to take a more collaborative and regional approach in examining options for future jail space needs,” said King County Executive Kurt Triplett. “Jails are very expensive and it is important that we make the most cost-effective decision for the region.”

King County has combined space for 3,039 inmates at its jails in downtown Seattle and in Kent. It is believed that programs such as alternatives to detention and a prosecutorial change in which crimes are filed as misdemeanors or felonies have helped contributed to the decrease in daily jail populations. Additionally, the jail has seen a 25 percent drop in bookings by Seattle police, its biggest user of jail space.