County Executives and Sheriffs Announce Jail Agreement

December 19, 2005
Topf Wells, 266-9069
County Executive

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, and Winnebago County Sheriff Michael Brooks today announced that Dane and Winnebago Counties have negotiated a cooperative, year-long contract for Winnebago County to house Dane County jail prisoners. Under the agreement, Winnebago County will guarantee Dane County cells for at least 60 inmates a day at a cost of $46 per day per inmate. Included in this cost are all meals, necessities, in-house medical costs, pharmaceuticals, and access to all the volunteer activities, religious programs, crisis intervention, and social services available to Winnebago County inmates. Because of its jail population, Dane County houses several dozen of its inmates at other Wisconsin county jails. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk commented: “The contract with Winnebago County represents real value for Dane County taxpayers. The inmates will be in a well-run jail with services they need. The per day rate will generate significant savings over the rates we are paying at other county jails. Finally, because our deputies frequently have to transport inmates to and from the state prisons at Waupun, Oshkosh, and Green Bay, all fairly close to the Winnebago County Jail in Oshkosh, we will also be able to control our transport costs. The agreement is a big help in controlling our jail costs.” County Executive Harris commented: “This arrangement will make good use of available capacity in Winnebago County. It will save jobs in this community and will contain costs for our taxpayers.” "This is an example of governments working together to share resources and at the same time reduce costs to the taxpayers of their communities," said Winnebago County Sheriff Michael Brooks. All agreed the contract was an excellent example of cooperation between two counties to hold down the costs and preserve the level and quality of public safety services. Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin negotiated the contract with Sheriff Brooks in November and December after County Executive Falk had proposed and the Dane County Board approved funds for the arrangement and County Executive Harris and the Winnebago County Board had approved the receipt and use of those funds in their respective budgets. # # #