THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240477
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Because the city jail was getting close to running out of funds to provide inmates with food and medical services, the City Council agreed on Tuesday to transfer $110,000 out of an emergency fund to the city jail.
In a memo to the council, the city manager blamed ``uncontrollable increases in the inmate population,'' for the budget shortfall.
Earlier this month, a judge ordered that the state remove inmates from the Portsmouth city jail within 60 days.
The ruling came after Sheriff Gary W. Waters filed a suit alleging that the Department of Corrections was illegally housing its inmates in the Portsmouth jail.
If the state takes the full 60 days to remove the inmates, they would remain in Portsmouth until after the new budget year which begins on July 1.
By law, the state must take custody within 60 days of all felons who receive sentences of three years or more.
Waters said this month he has 86 inmates that should be housed in a state prison.
The state pays Waters $14 a day to house each state inmate, but Waters said it costs about $44 to $46 a day to keep them.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL PORTSMOUTH JAIL by CNB