BULGING JAIL: TOO MANY INMATES SEND COSTS SOARING

JACKSON -- An explosion in the number of prisoners at Cape Girardeau County Jail and the need to house them elsewhere is causing budget problems for the jail.

With approximately $80,000 budgeted for food and board for 1997, the jail spent more than $127,050 in that area through September -- about $50,000 over budget with three months left in the year.

However, the jail is not experiencing a financial crisis. Sheriff John Jordan said savings have been found in other areas to offset the food and board costs. The jail has exceeded its overall budget by just 3 percent, Jordan said.

"We do great everywhere else," Jordan said. "But prisoner food and board and prisoner medical -- that is what kills your budget."

From 1985 to 1994, the daily average population at the jail held steady in the 45-to-50 range. Since 1994, the number of prisoners has skyrocketed: In 1996, the average daily population was about 80 prisoners.

Earlier this year, the jail population reached an all-time high of 108. The population has declined somewhat but remains in the high 80s to low 90s.

The jail was originally built to hold 64 prisoners, but the maximum was expanded to 81.

"That is about as much as we can push it," Jordan said.

When population exceeds capacity, additional prisoners are housed at other regional facilities at Cape Girardeau County's expense.

Jordan said if he didn't have to send prisoners elsewhere, there wouldn't be a budget problem. "It's a major expense housing prisoners outside of your jurisdiction," Jordan said. "It's a budget-buster."

While daily in-house costs for food and board amount to about $2.15 per prisoner, the fees other facilities charge for outside prisoners far exceed in-house expenses.

Cape Girardeau County primarily houses excess prisoners at five facilities: Bollinger County Jail, $17 to $20 per prisoner per day; Cape Girardeau City Jail, $20; Madison County, $35; and Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties, $45.

Cape Girardeau County jailers send prisoners to the less expensive facilities -- Bollinger County and Cape Girardeau city -- first. However, both of those jails have limited capacities.

There are other hidden costs to housing prisoners in other jurisdictions, including transportation and manhour costs.

Jordan said there is no way to predict population levels. "You can't look in a crystal ball and say this will be the biggest year ever," Jordan said.

Costs for the three major expenses -- food, board and medical -- have risen in accordance with the recent population growth.

The sheriff's department had expenditure figures readily available only as far back as 1995. In that year, the jail spent $122,855 for food, board and medical. It dropped to $117,782 in 1996, largely due to a decrease in medical expenses after prisoners were required to pay a minimal fee for doctor visits, resulting in fewer frivolous medical complaints.

For the first nine months of 1997, however, expenses totaled $176,590.

The planned expansion of the county jail will eliminate the expense of housing inmates elsewhere, Jordan said.

The $4.5 million project, funded in part by a $1.5 million federal grant, will expand the jail's capacity by about 100 beds, according to preliminary plans. An architect has been hired, and Jordan hopes construction can begin in 1998.