Dec 18, 2003 By Amy Karpinsky 2 min read

For the third consecutive month, the warden of the Fayette County Prison has reported that the number of inmates at the facility has remained low. At the monthly meeting of the prison board, Warden Larry Medlock reported that as of Wednesday morning, there were 207 inmates at the facility, including 190 males and 17 females, and no out-of-county inmates.

“The population is staying low for this time of year,” Medlock said. While the number of inmates has been low for the past three months, the opposite was true for most of the year. Medlock reported that the average number of inmates for the year to date is 232, which is more than a 6 percent increase over 2002.

The all-time high monthly average at the prison was 248.

Several months ago, the prison realized an increase in the number of female inmates, prompting some of the women to be sent out of the county. While some inmates were sent out of the county this year, the costs were much lower than last year.

Medlock reported that the county has only spent $18,000 this year on housing inmates out of the county, compared with the $230,000 that was spent in 2002.

Sheriff Gary Brownfield said that the $200,000 savings can be attributed to having the minimum security annex. The $1 million annex was opened in late 2002. For 2004, the county is allocating $100,000 for out of county jail cell rental costs.

Medlock also reported that the food and medical vendors for the inmates are “working out real well.” County commissioner Vincent A. Vicites said the food and medical costs are staying under budget.

In agenda items, the board approved a motion to send two counselors to a suicide prevention workshop in Pittsburgh next month at a cost of $456.

The board also voted to the outstanding bills for the past two months. Since there wasn’t a quorum for the November meeting, the bills had not been paid since October.