Police in Jefferson County said they are feeling the effects now that the county's jail stopped taking in new prisoners.

Tuesday night, hours after the sheriff said he would not take in any new prisoners due a lack of money, police took six prisoners to the Jefferson County Justice Center. All of the suspects were booked then set free. Among them was 23-year-old Ryan Wukelic, who is accused of driving under the influence with an infant in the vehicle in Steubenville.

Mingo Junction Chief Steven Maguschak said his department's only available option is taking the prisoners to the Belmont County Jail, but that will cost his department more money.

In Steubenville however, the city's law director said police there will continue to take prisoners to the county jail, and from there it's up to the sheriff what to do with them. He said the city of Steubenville will not pay for any jail services outside of Jefferson County.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, sheriff's offices are responsible for transporting prisoners. However, Maguschak said his department has an agreement with the sheriff that city police help transport prisoners.

"If I need to transport someone a long distance, I only have two people (working), so, yeah, I'm going to have to bring people out," he said.

Further, he said the local departments -- not the sheriff's office -- will have to pay for food, housing and any medical expenses for prisoners once their taken to another county,

"We don't have the money. Plain and simple, we don't have the money to pay. We're going to have to try to find the money, but we don't have the money," Maguschak said.

He said his department will have to make other budget cuts and the city's budget is already expected to be around $2 million less than last year.

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