State assists in prisoner costs

BENTON -- Scott County has paid out over $228,000 since Jan. 1 to other counties boarding inmates who cannot be housed in the current 48-bed facility in Benton, according to Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell.

Scott County has received over $256,000 in reimbursement from the state of Missouri for board since January 2002. The state reimburses board costs at the rate of $22.50 per day for those inmates convicted of a felony and sentenced to the Department of Corrections.

"While this is only a partial reimbursement, it certainly helps to offset the high cost of housing inmates out of the county," Ferrell said.

Inmates are being held in several jails, including Cape, Madison, Pemiscot and Butler Counties. Daily cost for keeping inmates elsewhere is generally $35 per day per inmate.

"Today we have 115 people housed outside Scott County. Counts have been as high as 135 per day," Ferrell said.

Because of good weather, the construction of the new jail is progressing on schedule, but it will be the latter part of this year or even early next year before it is completed and ready to house inmates.