City wants county to pay more for housing female inmates

TUSCUMBIA - Tuscumbia officials are asking the Colbert County Commission to consider a contract that would charge the county $37,500 a year for the city to house its female inmates.

The city has long housed the county's female inmate population in its jail, since the city's jail is divided into male and female cells and has capacity.

The county jail usually is overcrowded with its male population alone, many of whom are state inmates awaiting transfer into the prison system.

Typically, the city only has about one or two female inmates, if any at all, but the 16-bed female side of the jail at times is at or near capacity because of the female county inmates.

"We just need some relief," Mayor Bill Shoemaker said. "We're sending the agreement over for the commission to look at.

"This is a proposal, and when you look at what it really costs to maintain these people, this is what I would consider a fair appraisal of what it costs to house the prisoners."

County Commissioner Rex Burleson said this is something the commission will have to take a close look at before reaching a decision.

"We may look at other options," Burleson said. "We may say OK to the proposal, but I've got reservations about paying $37,500 a year."

Tuscumbia Police Chief Terry Sherron said the county has been paying the city $15,000 a year to house its female inmates.

One possibility Burleson mentioned is a daily rate per inmate.

"The city is saying it wants the same amount for the contract, regardless of whether there are two or 12 inmates in there that day," he said.

A $37,500 annual contract amounts to more than $102 per day.

Tuscumbia police Capt. Lori Jett said the length of stay varies greatly, depending on the inmate.

She said the expenses involve more than just paying for a guard. There also is a great deal of maintenance and other situations that naturally arise in a jail, she said.

Shoemaker said maintenance issues are common. "From what they tell me, it's surprising how much damage the inmates can do."

The $37,500 includes salary and benefits for a jailer. That amounts to about $22,000, Shoemaker said. The remainder is based on typical annual costs for utilities and damages.

The county pays for the costs of feeding its female inmates.

Burleson pointed out that the commission paid some $25,000 a couple of years ago to help with the city jail's plumbing and air conditioning.

Shoemaker said that occurred during an extreme hot spell, when the air conditioning went out.

"The inmates were suffering," he said. "We had to do something. There were 16 county prisoners. The county came in and agreed there was significant damage to the plumbing by the prisoners and they agreed to help us."

Burleson said it's too early to tell whether the contract will be approved.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.