SHERIFF ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO HOLD ADC INMATES



Sheriff Tate Lawrence announced that he has entered into an agreement with the Arkansas Department of Correction to hold other county inmates who are awaiting bed space in Arkansas prisons. Sheriff Lawrence said that five of such inmates were recently transferred from the Jackson County Jail to the Izard County Facility. In committing about he arrangement, Sheriff Lawrence said that this arrangement will provide a substantial amount of additional income for Izard County without adversely affecting the operation and without having to hire additional staff.

The inmates from Jackson along with the Izard County inmates bring a total of eleven inmates in the Izard County Jail awaiting bed space in prison. Lawrence said that for every such inmate held, Izard County will receive slightly more than $10,000 from the Department of Correction on an annual basis. Income from holding such prisoners, inmates from other counties, and the 309 program has amounted to a significant sum of money the last three years. Lawrence said these programs along with cost saving projects have resulted in Izard County Detention Facility not having to be subsidized by county general money during this three year period.

Sheriff Lawrence said we are able to do this only because the voters of Izard County had the foresight to build our new jail which became operational in 2003. Lawrence said the program of housing state inmates has enough flexibility in it to allow us to increase or decrease the number to provide for local housing needs. As of Sunday, the Izard County Detention Facility had an inmate population of 30, all males except two.



News Release
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2010
POC: Sheriff Tate Lawrence
870 368 4203