MADISON County, TN – New developments in Madison County Criminal Complex expansion project. This week architects presented county commissioners the preliminary drawings of the proposed Madison County jail expansion.
Now the question for county leaders is, how much of this proposed expansion can be funded and not raise taxes. Commissioners still have millions in proposed Jackson Madison County school capital and maintenance projects to fund and they have promised to take care of all projects without a property tax increase.
The jail proposal calls for an expansion behind the current Criminal Justice Complex. The land for the expansion was acquired from the city of Jackson.
Commissioners say to resolve jail overcrowding and projected population growth the new facility will need a total of 438 beds. They have that divided up into eight units with 48 beds each, 30 medical needs beds. The additional beds will be assigned for intake classification or to isolate inmates from other population.
Madison County Sheriff John Mehr has told commissioners that the current design is not cost-effective to maintain and staff. It creates a dangerous situation for the staff and inmates when everybody is tossed in together., said Mehr. Mehr said the new design lets officers directly supervise and separate inmates according to needs.
The next phase is to publish and solicit bids. Commissioners hope to have bids by the end of July to present in the August meeting. New commissioner will be sworn-in to take office at the September meeting.
