Costs to operate area jails on the rise

DANVILLE — The cost of running the Pittsylvania County Jail, Danville City Jail and Danville Adult Detention was $9.8 million for fiscal year 2008, according to a report from the Virginia Compensation Board.

The state’s total cost to run its jails was $798 million.

The average daily population of the state’s jails went down by 476, although costs rose $70 million.

Pittsylvania County spends the most money on one inmate for one day. That cost was $59.09. At the Danville City Jail, the cost per inmate per day was $54, and at the city farm, it was $47.19.

The city jail costs have risen 10 percent over the last three years; the city farm costs have risen 20 percent and the county jail has risen 3 percent.

The report showed that the Pittsylvania County Jail and Danville Adult Detention were overcrowded in 2008. The county jail had an average daily capacity of 146, but the Department of Corrections rated it for a capacity of 36. The city farm had a capacity of 149, but its rated capacity is 120.