Smaller county jails shouldering nation's higher inmate numbers, study shows

scottw@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- The burden for holding lawbreakers has been shifted nationally over the past decades from prison systems to the jails of small and medium-sized counties, according to a recent report.

According to a recent analysis of 45 years of jail statistics by the Vera Institute of Justice, U.S. jails now hold nearly 700,000 inmates per day, up from 157,000 in 1970.

"We've definitely seen an increase in the number of people we are seeing in and out of this jail," said Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.

Before the current 120-bed Scott County Jail opened in April 2003, the county had been spending as much as $600,000 per year and transporting prisoners to places like the Butler County's jail to board the county prisoners that wouldn't fit in the 48-bed facility the current jail replaced.

The sheriff at that time, Bill Ferrell, said drug arrests were the reason for the increase and that he realized as far back as 1980 they would need a bigger jail and started planning.

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