How much does it cost to house an inmate?

Operating a correctional facility is not cheap. We have a responsibility to care for the inmate's needs while he is incarcerated in the prison. It costs the taxpayers of Venango County approximately $50 per day or approximately $18,250 per year to house an inmate in the prison.

To help off set this cost, several programs have been instituted to make the inmate partially responsible for the cost of housing them. Any inmate on work release has to pay $90 per week for room and board while he is incarcerated in the prison. As you can see, the amount the inmate is charged does not even come close to meeting the actual cost. The idea is to show the inmate that they should be at least partially responsible for the cost of incarcerating them in the prison.

Medical expenses are a large amount of the cost in housing an inmate, and we charge the inmate $6 to see the nurse and $8 if they request to see the doctor. We will not deny any medical care to an inmate who is indigent and cannot pay this fee. The reasoning behind this fee is to keep inmates who do not need to see the medical staff from just going and "visiting."

Show All Answers

1. How much does it cost to house an inmate?
2. What is the average length of stay for an inmate at the prison?
3. What types of offenses have inmates in the prison committed?
4. What is the difference between privileges and rights within the prison?
5. How do you keep the inmates in line?
6. What is the Pre-Release Advisory Board?
7. How do inmates obtain and use money while incarcerated?
8. What is the policy for contraband within the prison?
9. What is the policy for inmate telephone use within the prison?