Jail authorized for extra help

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office received the green light from commissioners to use income from housing Polk and Hardin County inmates to pay for overtime or extra help "asneeded."

The jail is currently staffed for 96 but has beds for up to 144, according to Chief Deputy Jack Jett.

"The problem is, we don't have the resources to staff for a larger population on a regular basis," Jett said.

At $35 per day, Jasper actually makes a small profit by housing inmates from other counties, and it helps absorb the burden of utilities and staff whose costs are running whether the jail has 10 inmates or 96.

Jett gave commissioners a current example where they had 92 inmates, 28 of whom were paid by other counties. If five more people are arrested and don't make bail, the jail would be required to bring in additional staff.

Jett said during the day they have people who can double as jailers, but the problem occurs at night.

"Anytime we exceed 96, even by just one, we have to put on additional staff," Jett explained in a Jasper Newsboy interview last week.

If it appears that the Jasper inmate population may increase for a longer term, the county can require Polk or Hardin to pick up their inmates.