The Butler County Prison now is having its medical staff clear people before accepting them as inmates.

Warden Joe DeMore told prison board members Tuesday the policy is on a 30-day trial basis.

He set up the policy last week after state police brought in an injured inmate.

About three hours after the inmate was processed, he asked for medical attention, and it was discovered he had a skull fracture he had before coming to the prison and apparently sustained before he was arrested.

He then was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital before being taken to a Pittsburgh hospital by helicopter. DeMore said he was not sure if the inmate, who he would not identify, was back in the prison yet.

Because the inmate already was accepted by the prison when his injury was discovered, the prison will have to pay for the cost of his care and transportation. DeMore said he is worried about the cost of the bill.

“That’s going to be a lot of money,” DeMore said.

Since then, DeMore set up a policy by which the medical staff examines prospective inmates before taking them in, which he said adds about five minutes to the processing time.

DeMore said the medical staff at the Allegheny County Jail, where he was the deputy warden of operations before becoming warden in Butler earlier this year, checked inmates before accepting them.

“It’s the norm for corrections,” DeMore said.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier asked what happens if the prison refuses an inmate.

DeMore said either the police take the person to the hospital for treatment or take him back to the police station.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein said the policy would be good for inmates because it would allow them to get treatment.

DeMore said the only downside would be that police departments may be upset about the added processing time.

“I’d rather have them be a little upset than have us get a $100,000 bill,” DeMore said.

After the trial period for the policy is over, DeMore said he will draft an official policy that should be ready in time for the prison board to vote on in October.