Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Inmate Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff asks court to reserve decision on Haskell County inmate‑housing contract
Summary
The sheriff briefed commissioners on a proposed interlocal contract with a private Haskell County jail at roughly $98 per inmate per day; commissioners and staff expressed cost and commitment concerns and agreed to defer action while monitoring bed needs.
Sheriff told the court the county had been approached about housing inmates in a private Haskell County facility at roughly $98 per inmate per day. He said the contract had originally been considered for TDC inmates and that the private provider would pick up and transport inmates, offering some travel savings, but warned the agreement carries a daily fee even when beds are unused.
Commissioners pressed the sheriff for cost comparisons and cautioned that signing a contract with fixed daily charges could create significant expense if the county did not use the beds. "Once we go into the contract, it starts ... they charge us ... whether we have inmates there or not," the sheriff said. Commissioners and staff agreed the county's current inmate numbers did not justify committing to the contract at this time and voted to defer action while keeping the option available for higher‑demand periods (for example, summer population increases).
