Sheriff Gene Scarbrough announced that the Tift County Law Enforcement Center (Jail) is bringing in additional revenue because of extra efforts taken by the Sheriff s Office. Over the past six months, the housing of federal inmates by the Sheriff has resulted in nearly $210,000.
The Tift County Law Enforcement Center had to complete a thorough audit and extensive inspection by the federal government through the United States Marshal Service to insure that the policies, procedures, facility and the staff were in compliant to all standards and regulations. "I am proud to say that we exceeded the standards for passing and had no issues in our mission to receive a contract for housing federal inmates." Sheriff Scarbrough said. "I applaud the extra efforts made by jail staff to insure that the facility is kept up to standards and that procedures are in compliance as well."
The current average of 25-30 federal inmates per month for the period reported has enabled the Sheriffs Office to accumulate the extra funds needed to assist the county with expenses required for law enforcement efforts throughout Tift County. The federal inmates do not cost Tift County any additional expenses to house, due to the fact that their medical and other housing expenses are paid for by the federal government. The Sheriffs Office Jail Staff has accommodated this endeavor without any additional personnel as well.
A majority of the federal inmates housed in the Tift County Law Enforcement Center are from criminal cases that have originated in Tift County and were investigated by Sheriff Office Personnel and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Housing federal inmates is additional revenue -generated to offset expenditures to maintain a detention center. The Tift County Law Enforcement Center already utilizes several Georgia laws that assist Sheriff Offices to recoup expenses for services that keep the taxpayer from having to be burdened with.
Sheriff Scarbrough stated, "I believe it's vitally important for public officials to work
diligently in finding efforts to reduce the taxpayers cost for services and to assist the
county financially when we can.
