Prisoners To Be In The Army Now Sheriff Says Inmates Shouldn’t Live Better Than Soldiers

Grant County prisoners may soon be living like American soldiers in combat.

Sheriff Bill Wiester wants to save county taxpayers’ money and jail more criminals by housing inmates in Army tents and Quonset hut-style buildings.

The former staff sergeant in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division puts it this way: “Inmates should not have better conditions than the U.S. Army.”

Wiester, who received a Purple Heart during his Vietnam tour, even insists inmates start eating military rations.

On Wednesday, the sheriff bought the county’s prisoners more than 100,000 Army meals for just $3,500 - less than four cents a meal.

“I tasted them myself,” Wiester said. “They’re excellent. Very edible.”

The sheriff said the county’s lack of money to expand its overcrowded jail forced him to consider creative alternatives.

Many counties are toying with cheaper ways to hold prisoners. Arizona’s Maricopa County erected tents. Spokane County Commissioner Phil Harris has flirted with the idea of chain gangs and cheap Quonset hut-style shelters.

The Grant County jail has enough space for only convicted felons and violent criminals, Wiester said. The sheriff’s office has 9,000 outstanding warrants.

“We can’t even serve misdemeanor warrants,” Wiester said. “I want to be able to say, ‘Yeah, bring him in and book him.’ … We’re really hurting.”

The jail runs about 20 percent above its 107-bed capacity. Doubling its size would cost about $10 million.

With the tents and huts the jail can handle that many prisoners for less than $2 million, Wiester said. He expects to save taxpayers another $25,000 a year on prison food.

County commissioners embrace the plan. “If the state’s rules and regulations will allow it, we’re enthused about it,” said Commissioner LeRoy Allison.

, DataTimes