Fayette jail board votes to house federal inmates
With approval from the Fayette County commissioners and the county’s jail board, up to 30 federal inmates will be housed in the county’s lockup.
Warden John Lenkey said Wednesday that the agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice allows the county jail to house up to 15 men and 15 women who are awaiting trial in federal court in Pittsburgh.
The commissioners approved the agreement last week, but the jail board also had to vote in favor of it. Under the contract, the DOJ will pay the county $96 per day, per federal inmate. The agreement also calls for the DOJ to pay guards to transport those inmates at a rate of $45 per hour.
While the contract specifically says that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is an “authorized agency” to house detainees at the jail, Lenky said that would be the exception, not the rule.
“I’m not saying it won’t happen, I’m saying it’s not our mission here,” he said.
Several members of the jail board, including Sheriff James Custer, expressed confidence in the ability of the staff to handle additional inmates, and Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said the county jail is already housing inmates accused of violent crimes.
“I don’t believe that there is going to be any different with the federal inmates,” he said.
Chase Rutherford, president of the United Mine Workers of America Local 91, said the agreement allows an opportunity for more funding for the county.
“This additional revenue that comes in, we can use to better secure the facility and better to train our officers,” he said.
Lenkey said that the U.S. Marshals will also be brought in to ensure the jail staff are prepared for the transition.
“It’s not that I feel that we need the additional training to do our job effectively, but if we can, we’re going to give our people as much training as we can,” Lenkey said.