Van Buren Jail Acknowledged for Second Straight Year

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has been accredited by the Tennessee Corrections Institute for the second year in a row.

95 counties are inspected across Tennessee for how they house inmates. Jail Administrator Jarrod Campbell said they do not get a heads up, before the extensive examination.

“Basically, they look at over 230 different standards and items to ensure that we are humanely housing prisoners, justly housing prisoners as well as ethically housing them,” Campbell said.

Campbell said it had been a 26 year drought before being accredited in back to back years. To receive this certification, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department said it cannot just check most of the boxes.

“It’s an inspection of which zero failures can be found,” Campbell said. “We can’t speak highly enough of our correctional team, we have people from all walks of life that really help harmonize and help bring the full effect of their life experiences to us as well.”

This accreditation is specific to just the Van Buren County Jail’s operation and housing. The Van Buren County Jail can house up to 80 inmates, but it can drop to as low as 25.