Jailer negotiating to bring new federal, state inmates to Whitley

The Whitley County Detention Center could soon be welcoming some new inmates.

Jailer Ken Mobley said he is in discussions with both federal and McCreary County officials on to house some of their inmates.

“We want to have room both,” Mobley said, noting the detention center could house 20 to 25 federal inmates and approximately 50 McCreary County inmates.

The Whitley County Fiscal Court recently approved an inter-governmental agreement between the detention center and the Federal Bureau of Prisoners.

Mobley said Thursday that is on hold until the negotiations with McCreary County are completed. He estimated it would likely be sometime in January before that would happen.

Mobley added that the federal agreement, which would include inmates on temporary holding or available for work release, would bring in approximately $200,000. If the deal with McCreary County goes forward, Mobley estimated it could bring in about $400,000.

“The federal inmates would not be mixed in with Whitley County inmates,” Mobley emphasized.

The 50-bed The McCreary County Detention Center was closed in Jan. 2013 by order of the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

In the order, officials noted concerns with general security operations. Six inmates escaped from the facility in 2012 in four separate incidents.

Other issues that were documents included failure to inventory/control razors, lines and other property issues to inmates, and maintenance issues, including exposed wires, uncovered light fixtures and holes in the masonry.

At that time, an agreement was reached to send the inmates to the Laurel County Detention Center. Mobley said McCreary County has since reached a new agreement to send the inmates to the Wayne County Detention Center in Monticello.

Mobley said an agreement between Whitley and McCreary County to send the inmates here would be a win/win as it is an easier drive to Williamsburg than to Monticello.

Mobley said the federal agreement may require one or two additional deputy jailers be hired, whose salaries and benefits would be offset by the funds the jail receives for housing the inmates. Other than that, he said the agreement(s) would not cost Whitley County taxpayers or the county any additional money.

Mobley added that he is seeking a long-term commitment from both the federal bureau of prisons and McCreary County officials.

With Mobley running for Whitley County Sheriff in 2014, he noted the new jailer would not be locked into the deal.

“The new jailer will be able to opt out,” Mobley explained.