UPDATED Federal inmates still call Hamilton County home

UPDATE: Sheriff Simon Leis (along with Commissioner Todd Portune and David Pepper) had made the point at this meeting that this is also a public safety issue: the federal inmates being picked up lived and worked (and often committed crimes) in Hamilton County. Wednesday, Leis sent out a press release, elaborating on this point.

Hamilton County doesn’t have enough jail beds for its own 2,000-plus inmates, yet on Monday two of the three commissioners approved a contract to continue to rent 35 beds to federal authorities – at least through the end of the year. (read the Enquirer story)

The county’s paying $55 per bed per day to house 300 overflow inmates in Butler County. The feds are only paying $49 per bed per day for the 35 beds it rents in the Justice Center.
Although it sounds like a financial no-brainer, there’s a little more to it, said Commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper who voted for the agreement.

For instance, they said the county wouldn’t save any money by ending the contract now. In fact it would actually lose money because the Butler County beds are paid through the end of the year and the county is counting on the money from the feds to help it balance its budget. Plus, the county is hoping to cash in on the federal contract even more if/when a new jail is built. The feds have promised to rent 100 or more beds—generating some big bucks.

Commissioner Pat DeWine several weeks ago and urged the sheriff to discontinue the practice. He says (and a citizen echoed it at Monday’s commission meeting) that it’s fundamentally unfair to ask taxpayers to raise the sales tax to build a bigger jail if it isn’t even using its own beds.
Sheriff Simon Leis first agreed, then changed his mind. He came close to getting into another verbal sparring match with DeWine, (“If you knew anything about law enforcement and obviously you don’t” he managed to get out, before being cut off by Portune.)

Leis asked commissioners to continue the practice because of the good relationship between his office and the U.S. Marshal’s office. The two departments are on a joint task force that arrests fugitives wanted on local or federal charges.

U.S. Marshal Jim Wahlrab also spoke in support of the agreement saying it increases drive time and safety risks housing inmates in other counties.


Read the Pepper/Portune press release
Read the NoJailTax statement on the issue
And there was also an interesting letter/threat from COAST members on the legality of the whole thing. (Prosecutor Joe Deters said indeed, the agreement needs to be properly voted on.)
Leisrelease.pdf