The county jail now holds more federal inmates than local ones, bringing in potentially more than $1 million per month.

Butler County Prison continues to receive federal inmates and, according to recent numbers, there are 252 federal inmates and four out-of-county inmates out of a total of 410 inmates at the jail as of Tuesday. These numbers reflect a steady rise in federal inmates being transferred to the county jail.

Warden Joe DeMore said during a jail board meeting Tuesday that February's rise was attributed to a recent policy decision by President Joe Biden to reduce the number of inmates being held in privately owned correctional facilities. The federal government pays the county $75 per day for each inmate.

In January, the county made $1,007,400 from housing federal and out-of-state inmates. The money is recognized as revenue, and any profits go to the general county fund.

The jail has been housing a limited number of federal prisoners since 2012, but the federal system recently began to increase the number of inmates being sent to Butler County. In November, the jail held 40 federal inmates and three from other counties, according to earlier reports.

When the county commissioners refinanced a 2014 bond in November to save money on interest, the move also provided the opportunity to house more state and federal inmates at the Butler County Prison.

The bond's status changed from nontaxable – which is similar to nonprofit status – to taxable, meaning the county can earn revenue by housing more inmates at the jail who come from other counties or the federal system.

In December, the number of federal inmates increased to 146 for a total of 298 inmates. In January, the total inmate population increased to 309, with 167 coming from the federal government.

The majority of the federal inmates are coming from Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, a private medium security prison for men in Youngstown. But the use of private prisons is declining.

Biden last month ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons, forcing those facilities to send their inmates to places like the Butler County Prison. The order to end the reliance on privately run prisons directs the U.S. Attorney General not to renew Justice Department contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities.

“This is a first step to stop corporations from profiting off of incarceration,” Biden said recently in January.

DeMore on Tuesday said they don't get to choose the federal inmates who are transferred to the jail, meaning the inmates could be serving time for anything, from white collar crimes to violent crimes.

DeMore said the Ohio facility is willing to send an additional 64 more inmates, but he added the jail won't accept anymore until the coronavirus pandemic is over.

But the increased population brings its share of challenges as the staff contends with a larger population.

District Attorney Richard Goldinger expressed concern Tuesday during the board meeting about inmates possibly smuggling drugs. He said he is currently investigating a federal inmate possibly smuggling synthetic marijuana into the jail. Goldinger declined to share details as the investigation is ongoing.

But DeMore said that last week authorities held a “jail-wide shakedown” with drug-sniffing dogs.

Other issues are related to logistics. In total, the jail has 115 correctional officers, 84 of whom are full time. Between regular duties, the jail's staff has to contend with the majority of court hearings being held by video, which can create scheduling conflicts. DeMore said they are working on streamlining the system to make the process easier.