How are jail numbers doing?

How are the "numbers" doing at the McHenry County Jail? By numbers, I mean the inmate count. Particularly, the number of Federal prisoners - those being housed in the McHenry County Jail for the federal government. Not the ICE detainees. The U.S. Marshal's prisoners.

McHenry County expanded the jail and has been housing federal inmates at somewhere around $90/day. Supposedly, the County receives $10,-11,-12,000,000/year in "income". That's nice; but what are the expenses? What's the "profit"? Or is there any?

Rumor has it that the number of federal inmates has been declining. As the number goes down, so does the income.

There has to be a break-even point. Above that number, McHenry County profits. Below that number, the jail operates at a loss. The "loss" is met by the taxpayers.

So, what's the report? Who knows? Besides "Da Shadow", I mean. Does the County Board know? Certainly, the jail and the sheriff should know. Do they?

Can federal prisoners be housed elsewhere more economically (for the Federal Government)? Are there jails "out there" bidding against McHenry County?

Is the Federal Government considering contracting with "private" prisons? Could they house prisoners for $50.00/day? Are the Feds still interested in that prison that Illinois build and never opened? The Feds could buy that, move all the U.S. Marshal's prisoners and ICE detainees to it. So what if it's out in the middle of nowhere and families can't get there to visit the incarcerated family member? Think the Feds care about that?

What committee of the County Board oversees the Sheriff's Department and the Jail? Does the Sheriff take "bad news" to that committee? Or does it first have to detect the bad "smell" and go looking for the origins of it?

The county jail is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). What does that mean? Besides a plaque on the wall, I mean. Does ACA accreditation have anything to do with jail income? Must the jail charge a certain minimum daily "rent" to remain accredited?

Why should accreditation have anything to do with minimum rent? Why should an association have any power or authority (even yielded in exchange for a plaque) over what a jail charges for "beds"? Does it?

What if that minimum "rent" is higher than the Feds are willing to pay? Then the Feds pull their prisoners out and put them elsewhere. And our jail? Well, we have a nice "accredited" jail that is becoming vacant. What about staffing? Will there be lay-offs? Down-sizing?

If that happens, do you toss the accreditation plaque off the roof and keep your income stream positive?

If our jail's numbers are down 150 Federal prisoners now, should the jail be hiring two new corrections officers and promoting two to Sergeant? Tomorrow? And how are they doing at managing over-time? Just how much is the over-time bill at the McHenry County Jail?