Aaron Bennett, jailer of Barren County, speaks to the Barren County Fiscal Court on Feb. 15, 2022. Bennett revealed more inmates were enrolled in educational courses among other activities at the Barren County Detention Center during the first two quarters of this fiscal year.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — Quarterly reports given at a recent meeting of the Barren Fiscal Court show an increase in inmate bookings, commissary funds and inmate education program involvement at the Barren County Detention Center.
Aaron Bennett, the county jailer, updated the Court on various quarterly report statistics. He detailed first and second quarter reports, which encompass July through December 2021. The fiscal year begins in July each year.
The jailer said first quarter bookings were up at 945 compared to 805 bookings during the same time in 2020. Releases were also increased, too. The jail released 949 inmates compared to 775 during the same time in 2020.
“There’s a lot more work going on with the amount of people coming back in,” Bennett said. “So, it’s getting busy again.”
The second quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 2021, was also indicative of more activity inside the jail. Bennett said 969 inmates were booked while 923 were released. During the same quarter in 2020, 659 were booked and 659 were released.
“On an average, we’re booking in 10 to 11 a day, and we’re also releasing 10 to 11 a day compared to this time last year,” Bennett said.
The Barren County Detention Center saw an increase in its commissary fund, too, during the first two quarters of the fiscal year ending in 2022.
The first quarter report showed a balance of $61,990.62 compared to 2020’s first quarter value of $50,475.92. Second quarter values showed a balance of $65,335.81 compared to the same time during 2020, which was $45,093.35.
Kellwell Services provides food, laundry and commissary services, according to their website. They provide commissary services to the Barren County Jail.
A handful of inmates work in the kitchen and on road crews that collect garbage. There were 149 inmates in that group during the first quarter and 152 inmates in the second quarter. Road crews collected trash along 627 miles of county roads during the first and second quarters combined.
The total inmate work hours decreased, however. Inmates worked 18,272 hours during the first quarter compared to 17,376 in the second quarter. They collected 3,055 bags of trash during the first quarter and 3,166 bags in the second quarter.
And enrollment increased across the board for classes offered at the jail. Bennett said 80 inmates were registered in parenting classes during the second quarter compared to 60 in the first quarter. Anger management enrollment also increased from 53 to 94 students, the jailer said.
“Classes are going up,” Bennett said. “We’re getting more people involved in classes.”
The court approved an order issued by judges in the 43rd District, which comprises Barren and Metcalfe Counties. They sought a cell phone to be placed in the jail for assessments and communication between inmates and their attorneys, Bennett said.
