JAILS: WITH COSTS RISING, LET'S LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

The issue: Keeping inmates in regional jails has put a burden on some
counties' budgets. It's a dilemma, and there are no easy answers.

A number of southern West Virginia counties say the cost of keeping inmates
in the Southern Regional Jail near Beckley has become a hardship. In Mercer
County, for example, the cost has increased from $400,000 - when it ran its
own jail - to about $1 million today under the regional system. In Monroe
County, it has gone from between $20,000 and $30,000 to more than $120,000.

West Virginia went to the regional jail concept to comply with federal
standards for housing inmates. Many older county jails had simply become
too antiquated to hold those awaiting trial or convicted of misdemeanors.

Under the concept, counties would in essence pay the state to hold their
prisoners. In return, they would no longer have to pay jailers' salaries
and other expenses, like food, or have to operate under the threat of
inmate lawsuits claiming inhumane treatment.

The cost of keeping an inmate in a regional jail increased to $43.25 a day
last Sunday. Steve Canterbury, director of the state Regional Jail
Authority, said the increase was unavoidable, given a $2,000 pay raise for
correctional officers.

It's a problem for some counties, especially those not in the immediate
area of a regional jail. But before comparing figures, one must ask what it
would have cost to bring some of the old county jails into compliance with
court-ordered standards. Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird said the old
county jail in Fayetteville was built in 1908, and "it was literally
impossible to make the corrections in the facility we had."

Not too long ago, the mayor of one municipality was asked about the
possibility of reopening the old city jail as a holding facility. Sure, it
could be done, he said, but first the city would have to provide an
exercise yard, law books, probably a counselor and on and on.

Like it or not, that's the hand that's been dealt.

We've said before that a stronger look needs to be taken at alternative
sentencing, like home confinement and community service for nonviolent
offenders.

A new law also allows counties to add the regional jail per diem to court
costs for those, for instance, caught speeding (although the state Supreme
Court this week told magistrates to hold off collecting the extra $43.25
until July 13).

Those are steps in the right direction. To the fullest extent possible,
make those who violate the law, not those who abide by it, pay for their
actions.