Beaufort County Jail Takes on New Inmates Amid Jasper County Fire
Beaufort, SC – The Beaufort County Detention Center is currently facing a significant challenge as it steps in to assist a neighboring county. Last month, a fire at the Jasper County Jail caused injuries to several inmates and corrections officers, leading to a temporary reduction in their inmate capacity. As a result, 32 inmates from Jasper County are now being housed at the Beaufort County jail as of Monday afternoon, according to John Robinson, the assistant county administrator of public safety in Beaufort.
Current Inmate Count and Capacity
With the addition of these new inmates, the jail’s current inmate count has climbed to 243, which is just a hair shy of its maximum capacity of 255. Generally, the inmate population in Beaufort County fluctuates between 150 and 200, making this spike noteworthy. The Jasper County inmates are distinguishable in their neon-green jumpsuits, as opposed to the orange uniforms typically worn by Beaufort County inmates. Robinson explained that these newcomers are assigned to an “open housing unit” that is separate from the rest of the facility for safety and order. Each shift is overseen by two corrections officers from Jasper County, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
Collaboration Between Counties
This collaboration is a result of a mutual aid resolution established between Beaufort, Jasper, and several other neighboring counties. This agreement—covering 11 counties in total—allows for the transfer of detainees to different county jails during emergencies that affect their facilities. “It’s mutual, so they provide the service to us, and we provide that service to them,” Robinson noted, emphasizing the spirit of cooperation among the counties.
The Fire Incident and Its Aftermath
Regarding the fire that occurred on September 21, which reportedly started in a holding cell at the Jasper County Detention Center in Ridgeland, the cause has yet to be disclosed. The unfortunate event resulted in injuries to three officers and three inmates, according to information gathered from local reporting. Following the fire, Beaufort and Hampton Counties began to house some of the new Jasper County inmates who couldn’t be accommodated due to the damage in their facility.
Before the fire, the Jasper County jail had been grappling with overcrowding, with reports indicating that they had resorted to using a multipurpose room as an “overflow” housing unit—a solution not approved for living quarters.
Addressing Overcrowding and Expenses
The overcrowding issue also made it challenging to separate female pretrial inmates from those who had already been sentenced, which is a requirement according to the findings from the South Carolina Department of Corrections. According to Robinson, the mutual aid agreement doesn’t obligate one county to reimburse another for the costs of managing additional inmates. However, if this temporary arrangement extends, costs would be compensated at a rate of $52 for each day a detainee is housed in another county.
For Beaufort County, the added expense of accommodating these inmates is deemed “not significant,” mainly covering food costs. With Jasper County officers already guarding the additional holding space, this also meant that Beaufort County staff would not need to work overtime—a win-win for both counties.
Looking Ahead
Robinson pointed out, “The incident that happened at Jasper was unfortunate and uncommon. However, the movement of inmates or the sharing of resources is not uncommon at all.” This demonstrates the strength and cooperation of the detention centers and counties in working together during challenging times. While efforts are underway to address the overcrowding and the impact of the recent fire, collaboration remains essential to maintaining order and safety across the region.
