Bureau County Board tables inmate deal with Cook County Jail

Bureau County Jail may yet house overflow inmates from Chicago, but the Bureau County Board tabled the proposal for additional study and discussion.

The County Board was scheduled to vote Tuesday on an intergovernmental agreement to hold inmates from the Cook County Jail at a rate of $65 per day.

Sheriff Jim Reed said, however, he recommended the board postpone final action to study the issue more closely – and to sift through social media feedback that Reed said was misguided and inaccurate.

“To put it bluntly, we don’t want them here.”

—  Amy Thompson, Princeton

“There’s a lot of false misinformation about this,” Reed said, urging the board to send the proposal to committee.

It was tabled by a roll call vote of 11-3. Those who voted no – Republicans Sandy Hoos, Marsha Lilley and August Block – signaled they were ready to kill the intergovernmental agreement. With the measure tabled, discussion resumes at a committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5.

Besides bringing in revenue, Reed said additional inmates would be welcome because the Bureau County Jail needs to be occupied and used lest it fall into disrepair. Similarly, the county has entered into food and service contracts and risks losing money by not keeping the daily census afloat.

Leasing overflow space to overcrowded jails is an arrangement that has worked for La Salle County. Jason Edgcomb, superintendent of La Salle County Jail, said intergovernmental agreements with other counties have generated needed revenue. Cook County alone brings in about $15,000 a month.

The out-of-towners haven’t created issues for corrections officers. Most, Edgcomb said, are glad to be out of inner-city lockup and “they don’t give us any problems.”

Such arguments fell flat with the residents who rose to speak during the public comment period who expressed concerns or flat-out opposed it.

“I think it is a terrible idea with far-reaching, negative consequences,” said Amy Thompson, who said she foresaw numerous problems including criminals released into the local community. She added later, “To put it bluntly, we don’t want them here.”

Mary Lynn May said she wanted assurances that Cook County would fetch and remove discharged inmates upon release. She also wanted clarification on where the new revenue would go.

“I myself do not see an upside in any of this,” Terry Smallwood said. “I have a lot more questions than answers.”

“My question is,” said Janet Day, “is the continued viability and safety of our community at risk?”

Hoos said her constituents were overwhelmingly opposed to the proposal and, “We know for every one complaint there’s probably 15 others.”