(a) General rule.--When, in any district formed by the counties, the arrangements are complete for the reception of inmates, transfer shall be made from the county correctional institutions to the joint industrial farm and workhouse of the district of all persons:

(1) Who have been sentenced to any of the county correctional institutions for any misdemeanor or felony, except murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape and arson.

(2) Who have been committed to any of the county correctional institutions in default of payment of any fine or penalty, or for nonpayment of costs, or for default in complying with any order of court entered in any prosecution for desertion or nonsupport.

(3) Legally confined in any of the county correctional institutions, except those that are confined awaiting trial or held as material witnesses.

(b) Persons eligible to become inmates.--

(1) When any person is convicted in any court in any county of any offense classified as a misdemeanor or felony, except murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape and arson, the punishment of which is or may be imprisonment in any county correctional institution for a period of ten days or more, the court may sentence such person to a joint industrial farm and workhouse of the Commonwealth.

(2) Courts of record and courts not of record of any county in this Commonwealth may commit to the joint industrial farm and workhouse all persons who might be lawfully committed to the county correctional institution on charges of vagrancy, drunkenness or disorderly conduct, for default or nonpayment of any costs, fine or penalty, for default in complying with any order of court entered in any prosecution for desertion or nonsupport or for violations of municipal ordinances, where, in any such case, the commitment will be for a period of ten days or more.

(c) Existing county correctional institutions.--The existing county correctional institutions may be retained to confine persons awaiting trial, held as material witnesses or sentenced for a period of less than ten days, and such number of other convicted persons as may be required to perform the necessary institutional maintenance work.

(d) Clothing and treatment.--All inmates shall be clothed and treated as provided for in this subchapter and in the rules and regulations of the joint industrial farm and workhouse.