The Ozark County Jail is now housing US and Immigration Customs Enforcement or ICE detainees for Homeland Security after signing a contract with the federal government, a move that will benefit the county financially. The first detainees arrived March 1 according to Sheriff Cass Martin. The county is getting paid for housing the prisoners and transporting them to federal court appearances or to and from the Kansas City International Airport for deportation.
In 2022, the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office budget was in trouble and Martin says since then, he and his staff have been working on ideas on how to bring in more income.
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Martin says as time went along, one thing they knew they had to do was make improvements to the jail.
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Martin says with the new revenue source, they have added eight new staff members.
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The Ozark County Sheriff says thanks to the new contract with the federal government, their rate of pay is going up which is going to help with retention.
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Martin emphasizes the housing of ICE detainees will not have an effect on law enforcement in Ozark County.
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Martin says the detainees will not be released in Ozark County. They will only be in the Ozark County Jail for a short time until they move on to their next destination.
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