Jail board discusses work release checks

BROOKVILLE — The Jefferson County jail board discussed the protocol for inmates in the work release program to get their paychecks at last Tuesday’s meeting.

Chad Weaver asked Warden Dustin Myers if there were any issues that could be resolved in regard to the work release program’s checks. Myers said they had just instituted a new process, and a lot of the problems came from the checks going through so many people at the jail, so now they have limited that to two people. He said the process has now been simplified.

Weaver said his ability to access the computer system used for the work release program is hit or miss and he has had problems accessing it in the past. He said sometimes if someone sends him a communication on Monday, he may not see it until Thursday, after the checks are processed. He said he processes the checks once a week to cut down on workload. He said his department is processing the checks as quickly as they can.

Myers said that works out if he processes the checks toward the end of the week, as he is having his staff collect the checks as soon as they come in. They are collected and paperwork gathered on Monday, with everything in an envelope for Weaver on Tuesday.

Weaver said the average check he processed in 2022 was between $8,000 and $9,000, and the average check in 2023 was pushing $15,000. He again asked for Myers to relay the need for patience to the inmates on work release as the checks are processed.

Deputy Warden Brandon Schott asked if it would be easier if the communications sent down to Weaver’s office were in the form of an email. Weaver said it would be. Myers said there is a way to reply to the recipient through the computer system.

Myer explained the process in a little more detail. He said when a check comes in the mail, they have to have the inmate sign that they received their check and then fill out a distribution form to allocate where the money goes. He said once those things are filled out, the checks are sent down to Weaver for

processing. Weaver said once he gets the checks, the county takes 20 percent for room and board and 20 percent then goes toward fines. He said if an inmate is in jail for contempt or a domestic charge, then the county takes 75 percent. He said the rest is allocated to where the inmate wants it to go, such as to friends, family or their commissary account; then the checks are taken to the bank to be deposited, and brought back to Jefferson

Place to get two signatures from the commissioners’ office.

Weaver said the work release program is not only helping the inmates’ families financially, it is providing employees to businesses in the county at a time when workers are hard to find.

Myers said the number of inmates on work release is higher than ever. Weaver said Judge John Foradora’s office has expedited a lot of old procedures to get more inmates into the program.