WILLIAMSON — Mingo County may soon see a decrease in the enormous bill paid to the regional jail housing county inmates.

As previously reported, Mingo County dished out over $700,000 in six months for inmate upkeep, but a Day Report Center scheduled to open July 1 may reduce that tab.

The center will operate in conjunction with Logan, Lincoln and Boone counties, said Circuit Court Judge Mike Thornsbury, adding he hopes it will save the county even more than the nearly $8 million conserved through the judge’s work program.

“Utilizing the Day Report Center should impact more people, which in-turn should lower the jail bill,” Thornsbury said. “We are taking care of the punishment for criminals, but now we are also going to address rehabilitation with the center.”

Thornsbury said the center will be overseen by a director and an assistant, both of whom will report back to him.

“There are other day report centers in the state, but this is the only center run by the circuit judge,” he said.

He said the center will house several programs including GED and parenting classes, anger management and substance abuse education, with drug screening. Literacy classes will be added this Fall.

The judge said for the program to be successful, it will require the cooperation of magistrate court judges, the bar association and the county commission.

“Good things happen when political officials work hard and together for a common goal and good purpose,” stated Thornsbury

The center will shelter alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous meetings.

Thornsbury said this program was approved by the West Virginia Supreme Court. He approached the Mingo County Commission with the idea in November, at which time the commission agreed to put $50,000 into the program. However, through grants and from RESA along with the Mingo County Board of Education, Thornsbury was able to get the program running with only $5,000 and said the program will not cost the taxpayers a dime.

The center will be located in the basement of the Memorial Building. The director and assistant will be hired sometime in June. A Bailiff will also be assigned to the center.

“Now we will have a one-stop shop,” Thornsbury said. “We hopefully have a formula for success that will eliminate the majority of repeat offenders seen in magistrate and circuit courts.”