Several cities in South King County recently announced plans to build a 668-bed jail for misdemeanor offenders because the county's jail has become overcrowded.

The cities, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila, hope to open the new site in mid-2011, according to reports.

The jail will be operated by an organization called the South Correctional Entity (SCORE).

Misdemeanors inmates are those who have been convicted to serve a maximum sentence of no more than one year, like drunk driving or burglary.

King County Jail and the Regional Justice Center jail in Ken only house felony inmates and do not accept misdemeanor types of prisoners, so there is a need to house them.

The cities of Seattle, Shoreline, Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland are leading an effort to build a regional municipal jail A draft environmental impact statement is due later this year. Six sites are under consideration for the municipal jail, including one on Highland Park Way Southwest.

The site being considered for the misdemeanor jai is at a 14-acre vacant lot in Des Moines owned by the Port of Seattle.

The facility is expected to cost about $80.5 million.