Feb 29, 2024 By Mark Hofmann 2 min read

A week after inmates were moved into the new Fayette County jail, the county prison board discussed potentially charging a per-day fee over the term of their stay in the facility.

Board members Controller Robb Rhodes and Sheriff Jim Custer said Westmoreland County Prison charges a $10 per-day fee that goes toward facility management costs.

Rhodes said neighboring Somerset County has a similar fee, as do other counties in the state.

During the Wednesday meeting Warden John Lenkey said some counties vary the fee based on different factors, including the status of the charges lodged against someone.

Board members said the fee would be waived for anyone who is acquitted of charges, and those who are convicted would be able to pay off the fee over monthly installments.

“What I’m told is it’s hard to collect it, but it’s money we would otherwise not have,” Rhodes said. “So I think we can consider looking into it.”

Rhodes said one county told him that, since 2020, they have billed $22 million in inmate fees, but only collected $3 million.

“But $3 million is still $3 million,” Rhodes said.

Prison board members Commissioner Scott Dunn said Commissioner Dave Lohr both suggested waiting until operations at the jail are settled, and reviewing the fee then.

“It’s something we can put on the back burner for now,” Rhodes said.

In other business, Custer announced the launch of a program at the jail through the National Sheriffs’ Association late next month.

The Inmate Growth Naturally & Intentionally Through Education program (IGNITE) is a commitment to make the jail and community safer by providing education and opportunity to incarcerated individuals.

Custer said he became involved in the program 22 months ago and believed it would be a great program to start at the new facility when it opened.

He said he’ll soon send invitations out for the launch where more information will be provided on March 28.