Federal inmates could come to Lake County

The Lake County jail's work-release program could house up to 10 federal prison inmates as part of a deal being considered by the county board.

The proposed agreement with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which was reviewed Friday by county commissioners, is being considered because the Waukegan work-release facility regularly has vacant beds, officials said.

The deal will allow the sheriff's office, which controls the jail, to collect additional revenue without adding staff or opening new jail units, county reports indicate.

The deal would bring in about $89 per federal inmate, per day. The rate would cover all usual services for prisoners and basic medical services.

The program would only be open to federal prisoners from the Chicago area or southern Wisconsin who qualify for federal work-release status, Assistant County Administrator Amy McEwan said.

Several county board members spoke in favor of the plan Friday.

"We have been wanting to do this for a long time," said county board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican.

"(It's a) good program, a very good program," added Mary Ross Cunningham, a Waukegan Democrat.

No federal inmates have been identified for the program yet, County Administrator Barry Burton said.

A three-year agreement is on the table. The full board is expected to vote on the proposal Tuesday, May 11.