BEDFORD – Lawrence County commissioners were presented with a detailed commissary report on Tuesday morning, highlighting the significant revenue generated from inmate purchases that directly supports jail operations and sheriff’s department initiatives, all without utilizing taxpayer money.
The report covered the six months from January 1 to July 1, 2025. The funds in question are derived solely from the sale of items to inmates through the jail commissary. The sheriff’s department manages this system, handling inmate account deposits and facilitating purchases during designated times.
Revenue generated from commissary sales is reinvested in supporting the jail’s operational needs and the broader mission of the department – this is not taxpayer money.
In the past six months, the commissary generated over $145,772 in revenue. Expenditures for the same period totaled $171,214.94. The commissary’s opening balance for 2025, as of December 31, 2024, was $151,097.51, underscoring its role as a self-sustaining financial resource.
Revenue from commissary purchases is allocated to various crucial areas, including facility maintenance, personnel support, specialized law enforcement training, and the acquisition of essential equipment such as vehicles. Funds also contribute to the establishment and maintenance of the sex and violent offender registry website, along with other mutually agreed-upon expenses that benefit the sheriff’s department.
As of Tuesday morning, the current inmate count was 72. This total included 58 males and 14 females. Among these, six were Department of Corrections holds, two were parole holds, and two were Level 6 felons.
