New Broome County Jail Unit is Ready for Inmates

Broome County will be able to save thousands of dollars a day once it receives permission to put a new jail housing unit into operation.

Work on the $6 million expansion project at the Town of Dickinson facility was completed about three months ago. But the 48-bed unit can't be used until the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision gives the go-ahead.

Sheriff David Harder said two representatives from the state agency inspected the new section of the Front Street jail about three weeks ago.

The sheriff said he is still awaiting approval to open the added housing unit along with a new 17-bed medical ward.

Harder said the commission recently requested more information before it will authorize the opening of the units.

Broome County now is spending as much as $3,000 a day to board excess inmates at other county jails. Harder said 33 Broome inmates were being held in other counties on Thursday.

The sheriff expects the county eventually will make some money charging $85 a day to house inmates for other counties when space is available in the new unit.

Harder also noted the county would charge other counties $250 a day for inmates utilizing the new medical unit.

Broome County has hired nine more corrections officers to staff the jail addition. The sheriff plans to hire about 13 additional officers by January.

The county's new budget also includes funding for three more lieutenants and one more sergeant for the jail operation.

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