Fayette County officials have purchased a body scanner to take a look into jail inmates during the booking process. Officials say the scanner will help to stop the flow of drugs coming into the Fayette County Jail.
It was reported by the jail staff that seven female inmates were treated for overdoses inside the the jail overnight Monday. Vernon Stanforth, Fayette County Sheriff, said illegal conveyance of drugs into the jail has been a continuous problem and has been attributed to overdoses inside the jail.
Stanforth said the body scanner uses low-level X-rays and the technology will help to stop drugs from coming into the jail by allowing the jail staff to check for drugs hidden inside body cavities.
County officials are reportedly paying $237,999 for the body scanner and a five-year warranty. According to the sheriff’s office, the cost of the machine is $185,999 and includes the first year of the warranty. The remaining four-year warranty is covered with a price of $13,000 per year.
In addition to the cost of the machine and its warranty, county officials are paying for the construction of a room addition on the southern side of the existing jail, where the body scanner will be placed due to the space limitations inside the jail.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said the current breakdown of money contributed by county and city officials for the cost of the body scanner and room addition is as follows:
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office: $165,000
Fayette County Common Pleas Court: $20,000
Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office: $5,000
Washington Court House Municipal Court: $10,000
City of Washington Court House: $26,000
Fayette County Commissioners: $11,999 plus the cost for the construction of the room addition onto the existing jail.
The total cost may change, according to officials.
Stanforth said the sheriff’s office has worked with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to get the body scanner and design the room addition onto the jail.
Construction of the room addition is expected to be completed this month. The jail administration will spend about two weeks being trained on how to use the body scanner, Stanforth said, with the agency setting its sights on a May 1 implementation date.
