Searcy, AR
Region 8 Jail Looks To Federal Inmates For Revenue

July 16, 2007 11:56 AM EDT

SEARCY - The sheriff in White County is exploring whether extra space in the county jail can be used to house federal inmates or people detained for immigration violations. Sheriff Rickey Shourd says he is filling out forms that will enable U-S Marshals to hold prisoners at the facility. The jail would have to be expected first.

Shourd says the federal government will pay between 50 and 75 dollars per day for each prisoner. The sheriff says he has a packet of similar from the customs agency and that the jail could also be used to hold people on immigration charges. At present, federal prisoners can be held at jails in Jonesboro and Conway. The Pulaski County Jail in Little Rock can keep federal prisoner but is usually too crowded to do so.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6793985