Some jail costs could be recovered (WHIO-OH)

Some jail costs could be recovered
By Darryl Bauer - News Anchor @ October 13, 2010 5:15 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio--Clark County officials are considering a contract that could lead to recovering some of what they spend to house undocumented immigrants in the county jail.

Dallas-based company Justice Benefits, Inc. is offering to handle applying for federal funds, in exchange for 22 percent of the revenue.

Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly says only about 1 percent of his jail population is suspected of being in the country illegally.

Through Sept. 26 this year, 54 people were handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Kelly says their typical time in jail is three weeks, and most were arrested for traffic violations, and there are fewer and fewer people who are undocumented."

But Kelly adds he'll take whatever he can get to cover the $65 a day it costs to house these prisoners. The county is facing a projected $2 million budget hole next year.

Similarly-sized Greene County--one o0f 43 Ohio counties using JBI's services-- received $22,903 through the federal program this year.

Deputy County Adminisrator Nathan Kennedy epressed concern the JBI contract limits the amount for which the county can sue the company if a mistake is made and the feds want money back.

Commission President Roger Tackett expressed immediate support for the program, though commissioners David Hartley and John Detrick wanted more information about how much money could be made.