There is the one instance where crime does pay – at least for the Covington County Commission who, on Wednesday, approved a contract for an inmate phone system that will generate revenue for the county coffers.

The company, Telemate, will return 82 percent of the fees collected for inmate phone use at the county jail – a nearly 20 percent increase in returns given by the system’s current company. Funds collected will be sent to the county’s general fund, which is used to fund the sheriff’s office and jail.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said once the signed contract is returned, the new system can be installed in an estimated three days.