LUMBERTON — Robeson County officials are working to avoid exceeding a limit on jail population by sending inmates to neighboring counties and by releasing some minor offenders.

County officials said it could be years before they can expand the jail or replace it.

State officials said the 20-year-old jail can house no more than 420 inmates. The jail had 400 inmates on Wednesday. But 15 had been sent to Sampson and Cumberland counties to keep room available for those arrested that day.

County Manager Ricky Harris said neighboring counties have agreed to house inmates for $50 a day. But Harris said it costs extra to transport inmates between counties.

The county also has a pretrial release program to reduce the inmate population that uses electronic monitoring.