New jail to charge $80 as daily rate

By Jeff Bunn
Capital Journal staff
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 - 01:07:20 am CST

PIERRE — As the deadline for completion of the new jail approaches, one thing is settled — daily rates.

Monday, the Hughes County Commission approved $80 per day rates, an increase from the current price of $54.

The new rates take effect Jan. 1.

“I’m sure it will look pretty high to the contract counties,” said Hughes County Sheriff Mike Leidholt. “The reality is you can’t build a jail and staff a jail for less than that. It’s an increase, but new facilities cost more money and we have more staff.”

The new jail is expected to be completed in January, if not sooner.

Leidholt said Hughes County has contracts with four or five surrounding counties and the federal marshals service, which has provided about 50 percent of the prisoners.

Leidholt said the marshals will provide close to three-fourths of the prisoner in the new jail. The contract with the marshals is for three years. The contract with other counties is yearly.

Leidholt said some counties may opt to transport long-term prisoners to other jails in the state.

“We’ve factored that in,” Leidholt said. “They can build their own jail or go to another contract county. Some of them realistically, if they have somebody who is serving a long-term sentence, they may haul them to a jail that is farther away that charges less money.”

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Comments

4 comment(s)

Mort wrote on Dec 16, 2009 3:57 PM:

" Just in case I go to jail, I was wondering, will the daily rate go up during the rally?? "

Sam wrote on Dec 8, 2009 4:21 PM:

" Cheaper then any hotel in town. "

observant wrote on Dec 8, 2009 10:08 AM:

" wow Mike, your last comment in the article sounds a bit mean spirited - "They can build their own jail or go to another contract county." WOW. Just wondering, but when the locals were voting for this a few years ago (Im a stanley county voter), I dont recall it indicating that the price would jump $26 a day overnite! Maybe if those figures were given then, I might have voted differently. Make sure when the jail is operational, that income vs. expenses reports are published in the paper regularly! "

Pierre Citizen wrote on Dec 8, 2009 7:38 AM:

" This should not be a suprise to anyone. Those other counties had the option to be a part of this as a regional jail early on. Hughes County became the responsible entity and put hte money up front to fund a necessary project like this and they are being responsible to cover their costs. Thumbs up to the Hughes County Commission!! "

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