Kendall County makes money from jail cells

While many Illinois counties struggle to raise revenue in these tight economic times, Kendall County has one proven moneymaker that's the envy of its neighbors.

It's the county jail, which is one of the few in the area that has more cells than prisoners. That means Kendall County is able to take in overflow prisoners from other counties and charge for the service.

In his year-end report, Kendall County Sheriff Richard Randall says Kendall took in $880,000 this past year for housing prisoners from Kane, Cook and other counties.

And Randall tells the (Joliet) Herald-News that the jail should continue making money next year. He says DeKalb County still has not expanded its jail, and Cook County is already asking about the prospects for housing prisoners in 2011.