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Sheriff reports sharp federal inmate decline; county examines overtime, temporary staff and courtroom security upgrades
Summary
Orange County Sheriff's Office budget briefing highlighted a steep drop in federal inmates that reduced jail revenue, ongoing overtime and temporary-staffing pressures, and plans for courtroom security upgrades including a body scanner and facility work.
Orange County budget staff and Sheriff Blackwood reviewed several staffing and revenue pressures in the Sheriff’s Office during the FY2025–26 budget work session, including a steep decline in federally housed inmates that reduced jail revenue, ongoing overtime and temporary-personnel costs, and planned security and visitation improvements.
Budget staff said revenues from housing federal inmates fell sharply beginning in mid-to-late 2024 after the U.S. Marshals Service relocated detainees to other facilities; staff noted one recent placement was in a Virginia facility that later received press attention. The county’s current budgeted jail revenue figure is $1.2 million; year-to-date receipts were stated as $222,000. The sheriff’s office indicated it is budgeting conservatively and has revised expectations in light of the federal decline.
Sheriff Blackwood and county staff discussed overtime and temporary personnel: the FY2025 budgeted overtime level is $833,000 while year-to-date overtime spending has exceeded that amount (staff cited about $1.2 million year-to-date). Temporary personnel costs were discussed separately — county staff said part-time retirees (who may be limited to 700–1,000 hours per calendar year depending on Social Security status) are used where appropriate to reduce cost, but position-specific certifications limit how employees can be redeployed across assignments.
On security and facilities, staff and the sheriff identified the Magistrate’s courtroom inside the detention center as an area identified for conversion to support in-person programming and secure screening; discussion referenced a planned body scanner (rather than a metal detector), associated facility work by county facilities, procurement, and a required radiation certification from the North Carolina Department of Health to place the scanner. County staff said in-person visitation has resumed with no staffing problems reported.
Sheriff Blackwood also said the department has seen a significant increase in domestic-violence calls and is coordinating with courts and criminal-justice partners to manage the caseload. No formal action was taken; the discussion informed the board as it prepares final budget amendments and adoption.
