Starting early next week, inmates will be moved to the Piatt County jail and Sheriff Shofner says it's a decision that is being made out of necessity to continue their mission of public safety.

 

 

Sheriff Shofner says this has been in the works for several years and due to continued force turnover, the Department will enter into this new agreement. He says this will be beneficial to the County.

 

 

According to Sheriff Shofner, this agreement will benefit both Piatt and DeWitt County tax payers. He says the first year the budget should be unchanged but the following years it will be as if seven people were laid off, but no one is getting laid off.

 

 

There is a lot of benefits to partnering with Piatt County. Sheriff Shofner indicates Piatt County has a newer facility with better resources and the legal benefits as well.

 

 

Sheriff Shofner indicates the jail in DeWitt County is not closing. He stresses local inmates will be incarcerated and the rest of the space will be cleaned and left empty for the time being.

 

While there are great options for the empty space, local resources cannot support those ideas.

 

Sheriff Shofner says his staff is going to remain employed through this time, and says it is all about making sure the citizens of DeWitt County have access to law enforcement despite diminishing resources.

 

He thanks his staff for the sacrifices they are making through this time and still serving the public at a high level.

 

Hear from DeWitt County Board Chair David Newberg and Sheriff Shofner Friday morning at 8:30 am on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and online at dewittdailynews.com.