Jail Rate Change To Save WV $500,000+

The West Virginia Regional Jail Board approved a 55-cent reduction in the rate charged to counties for housing a prisoner in the state's regional jails.

The rate changes was approved Thursday and drops from $48.80 a prisoner to $48.25.

Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy, the board's chairman, says it will save the state's 55 counties more than $515,000 a year.

For years, the state's counties, including Wood County, have been concerned about the escalating costs of housing prisoners in the regional jail.