More beds will be filled at the Uintah County Jail in the coming weeks meaning more income to the county for the facility’s operation. The Uintah County Commission approved a contract during Monday’s Commission meeting with Salt Lake County to take on inmates from the Wasatch Front. According to Uintah County Sheriff Vance Norton, Uintah County will initially take on 24 of Salt Lake County’s inmates at a time with the hope to get up to 48 inmates within several months. The Sheriff’s Office is now advertising to hire 3 new people as a direct result of the increase in inmates with the tentative plan to hire 3 more after the first of the year. While Salt Lake County may only need the contract for about a year, the state has made a deal to guarantee contracts to Uintah County when Salt Lake County no longer has the need. “The state prison will help fill that void of prisoners so we can hire people now and retain them,” shares Sheriff Norton. The increase in inmates brings additional revenue to the County and assists in the goal of putting more local citizens to work in solid careers.
