JACKSON, Tenn. –  County jail committee members talk about plans for a new facility in Madison
County.  The committee, made up of law enforcement, county commissioners, and
others met with jail architects on Monday to discuss number of beds and capacity the new facility will hold.

Commissioner Larry Lowrance said, commissioners need more facts before
a decision is made.

Currently the Criminal Justice Complex has space for about 450 inmates. The recidivism rate is well above the state and national average.  If we could work to reduce that number to 60% or lower it would be the equivalent of approximately 100 beds, said Lowrance.  The committee  is considering a facility with 600 bed capacity.

Some commissioners want to consider closing the penal farm as well as the
jail annex and moving everything to one location. They said they are still
not sure how much the new facility will cost.

A final decision could be months away. The committee will meet again today to
discuss a health care area and other items.