Sheriff's Department loses $2.5 million in jail contract

Published: 6:30 pm Updated: 9:08 pm

The Sheriff's Department will lose millions of dollars due to a contract termination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sheriff Donny Youngblood says this could mean fewer deputies patrolling the streets in the long run.

ICE paid for each bed a detainee occupied.

But, this month its contract with Kern County was terminated.

Lerdo jail has been used to detain illegal aliens for years."This means for every $100,000 that I have less, means one less deputy sheriff or detention deputy sheriff," said Youngblood.

Youngblood says the department may have to lay off as many as 25 deputies or detention employees after losing $2.5 million in the contract termination.

In a written statement on February 4, ICE says it notified Kern County that the agency intended to terminate its contract to house ICE detainees in 90 days.

ICE says it routinely evaluates its contracts to make sure they meet the agency's bed space needs nationwide. They wouldn't elaborate further on the issue.

Youngblood says the department was blindsided by the termination.

"The public has a right to know, and in this case no one knew except the ICE officials that they were going to cancel the contract."

ICE has decided to fill a private prison in California City in eastern Kern County.

Youngblood says they won't have empty beds because of overcrowding in California jails, but they won't know the new cost per bed until next year's budget is put together.

"I hope that we're able to maneuver our way through this budget and survive and provide the public in the county with the services that they deserve," he said.

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