News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A White County Commission committee voted to create a County Corrections Partnership group to help with issues at the county jail.
Wednesday, the White County Jail had 221 inmates, but only enough space for 165.
“We don’t have the facility to hold that many. The state prisoners is not our problem, it’s the county prisoners and it’s not getting any better,” Sheriff Oddie Shoupe said.
The White County Commission Steering Committee B heard from Bob Bass, a state jail inspector, who advocates for the program. Bass said it offers education and guidance for county officials. The group will do an assessment of the jail and create a plan to reduce overcrowding.
“A jail is a losing battle, guys, it’s a losing proposition for anybody and I tried, if y’all remember 4-5 years ago I tried to get a regional jail and in five more years, guys a small county like this one won’t be able to afford a jail, I’m telling you, the lawsuits are coming,” Shoupe said.
White County hopes to avoid de-certification of its jail by creating the committee and a plan of action. Last month, the state Department of Corrections inspected the jail and said it would recommend the jail be de-certified at a meeting in Nashville on September 6.
Bass said since the group approved the committee, he would help them with a plan to keep the jail certified while the evaluations and changes are implemented.
