NCJ Number
168813
Journal
American Jails Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: May/June 1996 Pages: 9-14
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Comprehensive planning, effective marketing, and contractual safeguards have created a boon for Denton County, Tex., which currently houses 232 prisoners from Oregon at a minimum monthly income of $250,000.
Abstract
The available space in the Denton County jail arose due to the opening of a 384-bed, direct-supervision expansion that increased the jail's total capacity to 857. The facility was built to relieve overcrowding, but subsequently the State prisoners that were being housed in the jail were taken back by the State as a result of a prison-building program undertaken to address overcrowding. As the Denton County Jail emptied of State inmates in mid-1995, the sheriff was faced with either closing part of the facility and laying off up to 50 employees or seeking a contract housing partner. The latter option was chosen. Using in-house expertise and equipment, a resume of the Denton County Jail was compiled, including building specifications, airport proximity data, information about program references, and an aerial photograph. The resume was sent to more than 35 States. Those States that expressed an interest were sent an in-house video. An agreement was reached with the Oregon Department of Corrections that has proven mutually beneficial. The most crucial aspect of the contract was the stipulation that the jail staff would review the files of more than 4,000 Oregon prisoners to ensure that the jail received prisoners who did not have disciplinary or medical problems, were low escape risks, did not have pending litigation in the near future, and had more than 2 years to go before finishing their sentences. The sheriff does not recommend the contract housing program as a money-making venture, although it has been cost-effective, but it is one option for using available bed space that is not being used by in-State inmates.