North Georgia sheriffs say they've been assured that the closing of four state prisons isn't going to cause backlogs of state inmates in county jails.
The Georgia Department of Corrections estimates savings of more than $35 million a year from closing the state's oldest and most costly prisons in Milledgeville, Mount Vernon and two in Hardwick, Ga.
"Just because we are closing these facilities doesn't mean we are losing capacity," said Georgia Department of Corrections Division Director Michael Nail. "We pick up the bed space in other ways."
CLOSING PRISONS SAVES MONEY* Scott State Prison, Hardwick: $10.1 million a year* Bostick State Prison, Milledgeville: $9.8 million* Montgomery State Prison, Mount Vernon: $5.5 million* Men's State Prison, Hardwick: $10 millionSource: Georgia Department of Corrections
Bostick State Prison in Milledgeville will close in May, saving $6.7 million annually in direct operational costs, Mr. Nail said.
The state is adding bed space by renting private prisons and building fast-track pods with 250 beds each at other state prisons, he said. As the slated prisons close, prisoners will be transferred to any available open beds in the state, he said.
In the next year, the state should gain bed space, he said.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said 4,500 state inmates are now in county jails waiting to transfer to a state prison.
As of Thursday, Sheriff Wilson said he has 33 state inmates in an overall population of 200.
"There's always been a backlog in county jails," Sheriff Wilson said. "Some times greater than others."
Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers said that if state budget cuts continue, effects are sure to show up locally unless the state takes corrective measures.
"If they build more facilities that are more cost effective, we have to assume that's a step in the right direction," Sheriff Summers said.
He said there are 54 state prisoners among the 200 inmates at the Catoosa County Jail.
While local sheriff's are paid daily for each state inmate, the backlog can cause problems in the long run, he said.
Mr. Nail said the state brings at least 400 inmates a week from county jails to state prisons.
He said Walker State Prison and the Hays State Prison in Trion, Ga., may receive some of those prisoners when room becomes available.
Several of the new fast-track facilities have already been brought on line, and others are under construction, Mr. Nail said. Two of the pods will be transferred to their chosen sites in July.
"As we close these down we're making sure we have the added capacity in place," he said. "(The) last thing we want to do is grow our backlog."