Money to offset costs of housing illegal alien inmates

Daily Press Senior Writer

MONTROSE — The cash-strapped Montrose County Sheriff’s Office is set to receive $54,000 to offset the costs of holding illegal immigrants in its jail.

The U.S. Department of Justice awarded a total of $70,049 to the county under its State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.

Justice Benefits, Inc., a Dallas consulting firm, will retain 22 percent of that amount as its fee for providing the research and data necessary to secure the award.

“It’s going to help immensely,” Sheriff Rick Dunlap said Monday. “We run between seven and 10 (illegal-alien inmates).”

Currently, he said, the jail is housing seven criminal suspects thought to be in the country illegally.

The base cost of housing an individual in jail, regardless of his or her immigration status, is $62 per inmate, per day.

“This is money that the federal government has awarded the Department of Justice. It goes to help offset the costs associated with housing those prisoners,” Dunlap said.

“We weren’t even aware this was available to us. They (JBI) research to see awards that are not commonly known or published, and they compile all of the data.”

He said the company also verifies what the inmates’ immigration statuses were at the time of their incarceration, then submits the pertinent information to the DOJ on behalf of agencies.

“This award is for Fiscal Year 2004-2005. We have submitted all of our data to JBI for 2005-2006 and they’re telling us (the next application) won’t take as long. They’re more aware now of what the federal government is requiring and the reporting procedures,” Dunlap said.

The sheriff does not have enough staff members to research and apply for awards in-house. And, he said, the money comes at a critical time.

“Over half our inmate food budget for the year is depleted. It’s obvious I’m going to have to go before the commissioners for an amended budget for the food.”

With gas prices at record highs, Dunlap is also keeping an eye on his fuel budget.

“We’re doing what we can in that area. Our call volume is up considerably over last year,” he said.

Requests for budget amendments on food and fuel were also sought by the last sheriff’s administration.

“We’re having a continual problem in terms of funding at the sheriff’s office,” Montrose County Commissioner Bill Patterson said. “That (federal award) was one of the ways we thought we’d be able to get some more money. Even though we have to pay a fee for it, it still helps out.”

The $54,000 was expected to be received within 72 hours of the DOJ’s announcement Monday. Montrose was one of 801 eligible entities nationwide to receive a State Criminal Alien Assistance award.