Sheriff: Ogle jail’s income won’t suffer if Thomson goes federal

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OREGON – A federal takeover of Thomson Correctional Center wouldn’t affect the number of federal prisoners boarded at Ogle County Jail, the fees from which bring about $1 million a year to county coffers, Sheriff Greg Beitel said Tuesday.

In addition to the detainees, only convicted prisoners will be housed in Thomson, Beitel said. The federal prisoners in Ogle County Jail are there awaiting trial.

After meeting with state and federal officials, as well as other area sheriffs, Beitel said Tuesday that he feels positive about the federal government’s possible purchase of the near-vacant prison.

He also doesn’t think housing terror suspects from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, poses a danger to local residents.

There are 350 terrorists already being housed in facilities across the nation, some as close as  Marion, and during World War II, German prisoners of war were held at Rock Island, he noted.

“It’s not like we’re doing something we’ve never done before.”

In addition, Beitel said making the Carroll County prison, about 55 miles southwest of Oregon, a federal facility could be a boost to the local economy.

“I met with Sheriff [David] Snyders from Stephenson County and Sheriff [Jeff] Doran from Carroll County, along with the state police yesterday. We’re all facing layoffs – this may provide some job opportunities.”

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