Pubdate: Thu, 5 Jul 2001
Source: Beckley Register-Herald (WV)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Herald
Contact: (304) 255-5625
Website: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd86
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Editorial Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

JAILS: WITH COSTS RISING, LET'S LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

The issue: Keeping inmates in regional jails has put a burden on some 
counties' budgets. It's a dilemma, and there are no easy answers.

A number of southern West Virginia counties say the cost of keeping inmates 
in the Southern Regional Jail near Beckley has become a hardship. In Mercer 
County, for example, the cost has increased from $400,000 - when it ran its 
own jail - to about $1 million today under the regional system. In Monroe 
County, it has gone from between $20,000 and $30,000 to more than $120,000.

West Virginia went to the regional jail concept to comply with federal 
standards for housing inmates. Many older county jails had simply become 
too antiquated to hold those awaiting trial or convicted of misdemeanors.

Under the concept, counties would in essence pay the state to hold their 
prisoners. In return, they would no longer have to pay jailers' salaries 
and other expenses, like food, or have to operate under the threat of 
inmate lawsuits claiming inhumane treatment.

The cost of keeping an inmate in a regional jail increased to $43.25 a day 
last Sunday. Steve Canterbury, director of the state Regional Jail 
Authority, said the increase was unavoidable, given a $2,000 pay raise for 
correctional officers.

It's a problem for some counties, especially those not in the immediate 
area of a regional jail. But before comparing figures, one must ask what it 
would have cost to bring some of the old county jails into compliance with 
court-ordered standards. Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird said the old 
county jail in Fayetteville was built in 1908, and "it was literally 
impossible to make the corrections in the facility we had."

Not too long ago, the mayor of one municipality was asked about the 
possibility of reopening the old city jail as a holding facility. Sure, it 
could be done, he said, but first the city would have to provide an 
exercise yard, law books, probably a counselor and on and on.

Like it or not, that's the hand that's been dealt.

We've said before that a stronger look needs to be taken at alternative 
sentencing, like home confinement and community service for nonviolent 
offenders.

A new law also allows counties to add the regional jail per diem to court 
costs for those, for instance, caught speeding (although the state Supreme 
Court this week told magistrates to hold off collecting the extra $43.25 
until July 13).

Those are steps in the right direction. To the fullest extent possible, 
make those who violate the law, not those who abide by it, pay for their 
actions.
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