HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Christian County Jail is continuing to grow their correctional staff in order to adjust to an influx of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inmates who will now be held locally as part of a new agreement.
During the Oct. 14 Christian County Fiscal Court meeting, five new full-time deputy jailers were approved for hire. This raises the jail’s deputy count to a staff of nearly 70 people, with more expected to be hired soon. On average, the facility previously held just over 500 inmates.
“The primary additional duties that we are getting from our federal inmates, including ICE, is from the transportation requirements that come with them,” said Jailer Adam Smith. “We are responsible for taking them to and from court, picking them up from other facilities and taking them to other facilities.”
Continuous growth, inmates already incorporated
Since the end of September, they have already had incoming ICE inmates with more expected to be phased in soon. It was previously shared that the jail will bring in up to 100 ICE inmates that will be incorporated with local and federal inmates.
Despite the increase in population and staffing, Smith feels he is able to adapt due his commitment to growing the jail’s reach. Since his time in the position, he has facilitated contracts for the jail with Graves County, Fort Campbell and U.S. Marshals.
“This new agreement with ICE is just a continuation of the efforts that I’ve had,” he said. “I’m committed to get our jail in a position where next to zero local tax dollars are funding us due to the revenue we are generating.” It is estimated that 100 ICE inmates will gross approximately $1.9 million a year for the jail, which is funded by the fiscal court.
Smith had clarified that this agreement does not mean an increased in ICE presence in the county.
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