Still of the exterior of the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. From WWNYTV video.

Nov 17, 2023 —

The Jefferson County Correctional Facility is privatizing medical care for inmates.

As part of the new 2024 budget, the county has eliminated seven part time health care positions in the jail, which officials say they had trouble filling.

Instead, they’re outsourcing medical care for inmates to a private company, called PrimeCare. It’s the largest item in the 2024 Jefferson County budget at $3 million dollars. 

Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Barnett told WWNYTV that while outsourcing care will cost more, it means better care for inmates, and less stress on correctional officers, who are no longer providing medical services to inmates.

“For the first time in the history of Jefferson County Sheriff’s (Office), we have coverage around the clock, even on midnights. There are licensed RNs, LPNs, and PAs that are taking care of the the incarcerated individuals. They are getting the proper care,” said Barnett.

He also said that he considers the move “a huge accomplishment for the taxpayers, the incarcerated individuals, and the staff down at the correctional facility.”

Barnett says he believes more county jails will choose to privatize medical care in the coming years.