There was a partial win for Sanpete County during the legislative session as it relates to inmate defense costs.  Because the Central Utah Correctional Facility is located in Sanpete County, taxpayers in the county have been picking up the tab for public defenders representing inmates at the prison.  A bill introduced by Senator Derrin Owens to change that was defeated, but Senator Owens sits on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee, and he was able to secure $200,000 to cover Sanpete County’s inmate defense costs for the 2022-23 fiscal year.  He also received a commitment from the Indigent Defense Commission to work out a permanent solution in 2023.