Editor's note: This is the third article in a three-part series on the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail that will open in Nelsonville in December.

Getting arrested in Athens next quarter might mean a trip to Nelsonville instead of just a trip down Court Street.

When the $9 million Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail opens this winter, the contract requires the four counties involved - Athens, Hocking, Morgan and Perry - to close their county jails. All prisoners arrested in the four counties will be taken to Nelsonville.

Gary North, OU vice president of administration, said OU is concerned with the transportation of students to the Nelsonville facility. Because business in the Athens County Jail is primarily made up of students Friday and Saturday nights, the city must set up a transportation program at the expense of the county.

"It's one thing to arrest a drunk or a person doing an illegal activity, and then when they get there, they are in the middle of nowhere," North said.

Ted Kohan, OU associate vice president of administration, said every agency needs to provide transportation to the new multi-county jail.

He said most the arrests come through the city and the sheriff departments, while OU does one-sixth of the arrests. This is an inconvenience for all the agencies.

A group consisting of local Athens and OU officials is discussing an alternative to their transportation needs - three-hour temporary holding facility. Athens County Sheriff David Redecker said the Athens jail will become a holding facility for processing and/or awaiting transportation for arrestees.

"A holding facility at OU could be really convenient, especially during Halloween weekend," sophomore communications major Emily Hately said.

According to the state contract, after the initial closings, all counties can reopen the old jails as alternative holding facilities.

Athens Mayor Ric Abel said a benefit of the holding facility will be the ability to hold arrestees so transportation officers can take several at one time, saving unnecessary trips.

Kohan said the process of taking a prisoner from Athens and getting to the multi-county jail is at least a one-hour round trip.

Though the holding facility does not have to meet state minimum jail standards, it must be operated Monday through Friday for prisoners who are awaiting trials between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

According to guidelines defined by the Bureau of Adult Dentention, a temporary holding facility can be used as a jail cell, but also as an area designated for temporary holding purposes. Failure to follow these requirements will make the facility an eight-hour facility.

A Bureau of Adult Detention jail inspector would have to inspect an eight-hour facility, while a three-hour facility is self-inspected by the sheriff's department.

The possibility of turning the county jail into an eight-hour facility was discussed, but that would require the jail to be open full-time, hiring six officers and 24-hour surveillance in addition to the renovation costs.

Redecker said the cost of hiring six officers would cost another $125,000 yearly, in addition to renovations to the jail and 24-hour video surveillance.

"It takes time, it takes resources, it takes personnel to facilitate all that goes with it," Redecker said.

Athens County Commissioner Bill Theisen said renovations for a three-hour facility start at $85,000 without additional costs.

"The commissioners do not look favorably at (the eight-hour) option because they have to spend over $900,000 next year on the regional jail," Redecker said. The $900,000 comes through the commissioner's annual budget.

But Abel said, "I would like to see a temporary holding facility if it is cost-effective."

Cost for themselves rather than for the city seems to be a main concern for students.

Obviously I don't plan on getting arrested, but if it ever did happen, I would much rather Ôdry out' here in Athens then be hauled all the way out to Nelsonville and have to pay the cab fare to get back," freshman Shane Paris said.

- Molly Sullivan and Stacy Apar contributed to this story