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. - --- MAP posted-by: GD