TNC
03-08-2005, 09:18 AM
Prison overflow strains limits at some county jails
March 7, 2005 8:42 PM
The Associated Press
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho Prison overcrowding has forced state officials to house more inmates in county jails.
Though the shift of housing inmates in county jails means some counties will get more revenue, not all of them are happy with the practice.
Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson says his jail barely has room for its own inmates. And he says the state's reimbursement rate of 40 dollars per inmate doesn't cover the average 62 dollars a day cost.
But Shoshone County officials take a different view.
State inmates are a growth business for the small county, which could not afford to keep its jail open without them.
Shoshone County jail administrator Lieutenant Rick Smith says the more state prisoners the 64-bed jail has, the less it costs the county to run it.
March 7, 2005 8:42 PM
The Associated Press
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho Prison overcrowding has forced state officials to house more inmates in county jails.
Though the shift of housing inmates in county jails means some counties will get more revenue, not all of them are happy with the practice.
Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson says his jail barely has room for its own inmates. And he says the state's reimbursement rate of 40 dollars per inmate doesn't cover the average 62 dollars a day cost.
But Shoshone County officials take a different view.
State inmates are a growth business for the small county, which could not afford to keep its jail open without them.
Shoshone County jail administrator Lieutenant Rick Smith says the more state prisoners the 64-bed jail has, the less it costs the county to run it.