LAWRENCE COUNTY Board wants to cut jail costs

Prison board members are trying to free up space for out-of-county inmates.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County officials are looking at new programs for county inmates to help curb costs at the jail.
The county is facing a $1.1 million jail deficit in the 2003 budget. Officials say costs are expected to rise by about $400,000, and revenue from out-of-county inmates is expected to decrease by about $700,000.
President Judge Ralph D. Pratt of common pleas court, a member of the county prison board, said the courts are looking at ways to cut costs.
Review for possible release
Pratt said the judges intend to review lists of inmates to determine if any should be released without bail pending their court proceedings, and they are also looking at different methods of inmate drug testing.
Commissioner Brian Burick, prison board president, said the county also is considering a day-reporting system for inmates on work-release.
Work-release inmates now sleep at the facility and are released during the day for work. Burick said this new program would allow the inmates to remain at home and be required to check in at the jail once a day after they complete work.
Prison board members said the changes are an effort to free up beds for out-of-county inmates. Lawrence County collects $55 per day, per inmate from other counties who keep their inmates in the jail.
Jail officials last year collected about $1 million in revenue from those other counties, but the number dropped sharply this year when Lawrence County's own prison population increased.
More cost-cutting
Prison board members said they expect to meet again before the county budget is finalized to look for more ways to cut costs.
Commissioners said they expect to introduce the budget Dec. 10 or Dec. 11.
cioffi@vindy.com