Crime & Public Safety
Kanawha officials flag widespread billing errors in regional jail invoices
Kanawha County officials say regional jail billing practices have produced substantial errors that are straining county finances. County Commission President Ben Salango told media he has three full-time employees reviewing jail invoices and that his initial review found more than $100,000 in billing errors during the first 60 days of work.
A coalition of 12 county commissions reported that invoice audits uncovered error rates as high as 10 to 30 percent, with one county describing hundreds of thousands of dollars in discrepancies after hires were made to comb through bills. County leaders said state officials still submit some invoices by fax and that one county received roughly 500 pages of invoices over a two-week span.
Salango framed the billing concerns alongside broader questions about jail costs and population. He told reporters that about 42 percent of Kanawha County’s jail population were non-violent offenders and that lengthy stays for those who cannot post bail drive higher county expenses. He and other coalition members have urged modernization of administrative systems and legislative review of fees charged to operate the regional jail-prison system.
At present, county officials are continuing detailed reviews of invoices through dedicated staff and the Jail Bill Task Force. The reporting attributes the findings and recommendations to the county commission and the multi-county coalition; no arrests, charges, or court outcomes are described in the available material.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More Kanawha County news · Request a correction or case update
All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.