Alternative jail given financial support

Reality House received two pieces of good news from the Boone County Commission this week.

The alternative sentencing facility that works with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department will keep getting a break on rent and will receive more money per inmate from the county.

In two separate meetings, the commission decided to waive a rent increase that was overlooked for six years and to increase the money the not-for-profit organization receives per inmate by $7.

Thursday, commissioners met to discuss the lease for the Reality House’s rental of the renovated juvenile detention center in Prathersville.

According to the lease, Reality House’s $5,000 monthly rent should have been increased yearly by about 2 percent since 2001.

Program director Dennis Winfrey was surprised and happy to learn that Reality House had been saving money on rent.

Presiding Commissioner Ken Pearson said the new agreement increases the amount the program receives from Boone County from $28 per person to $35 for those participating in work release and others that are simply housed by the facilities, starting Sunday.

“In reality, the Reality House has been working diligently with the Boone County Sheriff’s office and saving us lots of money,” Southern District Commissioner Karen Miller said. “It helps keep inmates in the county, lowers jail population, and the work-release helps families.”