Madison Co. leaders give update on new jail

JACKSON, Tenn. — This week, Madison County leaders have been learning from the National Institute of Corrections as the county prepares to take on the major project of possibly building a new jail to address overcrowding .

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr says the department has participated in free training from the NIC for the past year, hoping to ensure the money used on the new facility is spent the right way.

Mehr says he hopes to have the space to implement more rehabilitation programs in the new jail.

“If you do the planning and design right, the facility will last you a good 30 years, and that’s what we’re shooting for and trying to help the sheriff do that,” NIC technical resource provider David Bostwick said.

The sheriff says there isn’t a set completion date for the new jail, but county officials will have a better timetable after meeting with jail architects some time next week.