A proposal to house federal detainees at the Ingham County Jail is being considered by the County Board of Commissioners. If approved, it could net the county nearly half a million dollars in revenue.
Since last September, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan has held criminal trials at its Lansing courthouse. This has forced the U.S. Marshals Service to drive detainees back and forth over long distances multiple times a week. This new proposal would make coordination easier for the U.S. Marshals Services.
Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth says they would house up to 25 detainees for a fee.
“we've got six posts open at the jail, and we have to have X amount of Deputies working each and every day. If we have spare beds or cells in the posts that we have open, it would just make sense. And we feel we can do this safely, even in the midst of COVID.”
Wriggelsworth says this proposal would have little impact on the jail’s operational costs. The Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on the proposal next Tuesday.