The cost of housing inmates in the Regional Jail Systems is hurting many counties in our area.

Every inmate housed in Regional Jail costs about $50 a day. For some counties, that is a financial burden they are having trouble with.

Kristen Keller is a Prosecuting Attorney in Raleigh County. She said people in the justice system are often left to figure out alternative ways to handle offenders.

“You have to care because there have been other counties that, because of the ridiculously high jail bill, they had to lay off deputies which in dangers public safety. They had to lay off prosecuting attorney’s who then can’t move the cases,” Keller said.

Keller said her office and the County Commission work together when it comes to the cost of having a person in jail.

