Canton, Cherokee County, Ga. January 28, 2008- For the past seven years the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office has been participating in the Federal reimbursement program, State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). Since 2000, the county has received a total of $732,542.00 in federal reimbursements for the housing of “undocumented criminal aliens” in the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. In December 2007, Cherokee County received $121,797.00 from SCAAP to offset the costs of housing inmates that have been shown to be in the United States illegally and have been arrested for either three misdemeanors or a felony offense. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for applying for these funds in June of each year through the Bureau of Justice Administration by providing statistical records and information. In 2006, Cherokee County received the third largest reimbursement for local jurisdictions in the State of Georgia. These funds are used for “correctional purposes” within the Adult Detention Center as outlined in the SCAAP guidelines. These purposes may include training for corrections deputies, inmate transport vehicles, medical treatment costs, deputy salaries, etc.

Participation in this program is voluntary and the responsibility lies with the Sheriff’s Office to apply for these funds. This is a time-intensive application process that must be completed each year in order to receive the reimbursement. “This is an excellent program that helps to off-set some of the costs to the citizens of Cherokee County for the housing of these inmates. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to apply for these funds each year”, Sheriff Roger Garrison.