Feds Will Pay to House Prisoners
By GABE WELLSArticle Photos
Federal prisoners awaiting trial in Wheeling may be held in the Belmont County Jail through a plan that would generate thousands of dollars not anticipated when the multi-million dollar expansion of the facility began.
Belmont County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Joseph Hummel said Tuesday the department is in talks with the U.S. Marshals Service on the possibility of reserving two cells in the Belmont County Jail specifically for federal inmates. The agreement would generate more than $60,000 annually for Belmont County, according to Commissioner Gordie Longshaw.
The chief said the recent, $4.5 million expansion of the jail from a 72-inmate facility to a 148-inmate facility was done, at least in part, for the revenue generated by holding prisoners from surrounding counties. Hummel said he and Sheriff Fred Thompson are excited federal prisoners may also be held there, and the chief indicated a deal with the U.S. Marshals Service is likely.
"They're a good customer - they pay well," Hummel said. "I understand it would be $90 or $95 a day. The sheriff has been in communication with (U.S. Marshals) for the last month-and-a half, and we are waiting on some paperwork."
Hummel said expenses accrued by the Belmont County Sheriff's Department in transporting federal prisoners to Wheeling for appearance in U.S. Court in the Northern District of West Virginia also would be covered by the U.S. Marshals Service. He said there also will be instances in which it may be necessary to transport federal prisoners to airports in Pittsburgh and Columbus, but fuel and all other expenses involved in those transports also would be covered by the federal entity.
Longshaw was similarly enthusiastic.
"That's automatic money every day," Longshaw said. "That's great news."
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PCGS70
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08-29-08 5:41 AM
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