Commissioners approve higher per‑diem for U.S. Marshals inmates

Christian County commissioners on a voice vote approved a renegotiated contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal inmates, the sheriff told the board.

The sheriff said the new per‑diem rate will be $100.41 per inmate per day, up from the county’s previous rate of $75. He said the contract also sets the hourly rate for guard and transportation at $32; he told commissioners that, on average, the county houses about 50 U.S. Marshals inmates each month.

"We have renegotiated our contract with U.S. Marshals Service, for housing of federal inmates," the sheriff said. "Everything else in the contract is the same as it previously was. We would just ask that the commission move forward with this contract." (Sheriff)

Commissioners discussed how the change would affect county residents and noted the contract can be renegotiated every 36 months. After brief discussion the chair called for a motion to approve the contract; the motion passed by a voice vote of the commissioners present.

The board did not provide a multi‑year cost estimate in the meeting; the sheriff said the hourly and per‑diem amounts and the average inmate count were the figures to be used for budgeting.