Prisoners returned to Jasper County

The Vernon County jail recently had an influx of prisoners from Jasper County, because that county's jail was woefully overcrowded, but an effort to house those prisoners in the Vernon County jail instead was short-lived. Sheriff Ron Peckman said that there were about 20 prisoners being held in the jail at the request of Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn, but all of the prisoners were sent back to Jasper County at the first of May.

Dunn is in the middle of what Peckman called "a political battle" with the Jasper County commissioners because he moved the inmates from the county jail there because there were just too many of them. The commission claims that the county can not afford to pay what may be a large bill for sending the prisoners to other jails.

At nearly twice the capacity of the Vernon County jail, the Jasper County facility has the space for 153 prisoners. The move to Vernon County and some others is because on March 25, there were 232 prisoners under lock and key in the Jasper County jail.

Peckman said, "state statute gives the sheriff the authority to move them" and also specifies how it will be paid for, but the Jasper County Commission says that Dunn may have to foot the bill himself. The presiding commissioner delivered a letter to Dunn stating that the commissioners "will not condone nor pay for a taxpayer funded room and board plan."

Dunn says that he has "state statutes" to back his position of legally moving the prisoners and requiring the commission to pay for their care. Dunn said that it was an issue of the "safety of his staff and the prisoners," that prompted the move. He said that the locking system on the doors in the jail sometimes malfunctions and all the doors will open at once.

Dunn also said there is more fighting in the jail because of the overcrowding. "It's just not safe," he said. And he said the county has an obligation to take care of the prisoners in a humane manner. That is not being done. That was why he moved 20 prisoners to the Vernon County jail.

He believes that the county has the obligation to pay the fees, which in the case of the Vernon County jail amount to $40 per day per prisoner. Dunn also believes there is something of a personal vendetta against him. He said that he used to get along well with one of the commissioners and the attorney advising him. Dunn said, "We used to ride horses together," and be friends, but a layoff of some of his staff members changed that. The layoff wasn't personal, he said; but he had to lay off a part-time employee "my only part- time employee" who is married to the attorney and things have soured since then. Dunn said that he is not going to give up, nor will he reconsider another term in office. "Of course I'll run again," he said.

Peckman said that the prisoners were sent back to Jasper County after he had some discussion with the Vernon County prosecutor Lynn Ewing. It was decided to send them back rather than risk a legal battle later.

"We didn't want to have to sue another county to get our money," Peckman said, confident that the county would get paid for the time the prisoners were incarcerated in the Vernon County jail.