Ky. will save by no longer housing inmates in private prisons, but closing last one will hurt its host county

Kentucky's plan to save money by no longer housing its inmates in private prisons could significantly hurt the rural county with the last one. The state announced its intention to end its contract with Corrections Corp. of America for the Marion Adjustment Center in St. Mary, saying it could have $1.5 to $2.5 million a year, Stephen Lega reports for the Lebanon Enterprise, but the impact on Marion County could be as great. (Lega photo: Marion Adjustment Center)

Once the prisoners are moved, Kentucky will no longer house any of its inmates in private prisons; one prison houses inmates from Vermont. With the relocation of 1,807 inmates, 166 employees will lose their jobs and the county stands to lose a considerable amount, Lega reports. From August 2012 to May 2013 the center spent nearly $1.77 million with Marion County businesses, including $32,497 for advertising with the Enterprise, a Landmark Community Newspapers Inc. weekly.

The facility also provided more than $132,000 in revenue for the county water district in the past year, invested $250,000 to help start a sewer project, and pays between $18,000 to $21,500 per month for sewer service. Also, the county gets about $52,700 a year in occupational taxes from the facility. Families of inmates also bring money to the county when they visit, and "the prison's community service workers provided more than $34,000 in savings to the Department of Transportation and the community during the first six months of 2013," Lega reports.
 
In addition to monetary gains, inmate programs have provided helpful services, reports Lega. Prisoners run an obedience training program for shelter dogs that are considered difficult to adopt, with more than 300 dogs having been adopted through the program. Inmates have also been responsible for cleaning up the community, building new bridges, benches and picnic tables, and have done other work to help better the county. (Read more)