05/12/08

Discussions for a multi-region prison facility stalled today as Jerome County Commissioners decided to hold off for a few weeks.

Jerome is one county considering a multi-county jail, but is now waiting to hear from Twin Falls County and its involvement.

Jerome County Commissioner Chairman Charlie Howell says, “The commissioners decided that they wanted to wait until after the Primaries and see what happens there, and then proceed after that with the discussion of Twin Falls.”

The Jerome County Jail is overextended, and it's costing taxpayers money. What the commissioners need to decide now is, what's the most cost-effective method for the county.

Howell says, “Our current jail right now is adequate for holding prisoners at this time, however we're farming out between 25 and 30 prisoners every month, which at $40 a day is a substantial cost to the county taxpayers and that's what we're trying to remedy.”

Rocky Mountain Corrections will do a study for Gooding, Lincoln and Camas counties about a multi-region jail.

Howell says that for a study for Jerome County, it could cost $15,000.

Andrew Logsdon, KMVT News.