News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The future expansion of the Putnam County Justice Center may allow the sheriff’s office to house federal inmates.
Sheriff Eddie Farris said he’s been discussing the idea with U.S. Marshals from the Eastern and Middle Tennessee Districts.
“We are in some talks about having a small portion of those cells designated for federal inmates,” Farris said. “If we agree to do so, they will actually give us a portion of funding to build the facility with and then pay us the regular federal day rate to house those inmates.”
The federal government would also cover medical expenses for the inmates and pay the sheriff’s office for transportation.
Farris said the sheriff’s office will have to meet certain requirements in order to house federal inmates.
“By the time we build that facility and have it staffed we will meet those requirements,” Farris said. “The only reason we don’t meet them now is because we are so overcrowded.”
Farris doesn’t know how much money the county will receive for housing federal inmates. He said it would likely be higher than the amount received for housing state inmates.
“As long as we build a facility and we have a little extra space, to me it makes sense to negotiate with them and talk about taking some of their federal money,” Farris said.
Putnam County Commissioners saw preliminary plans for the expansion project last week. The plan calls for 800 additional beds and at least three new courtrooms.
The cost of the project has not been announced.
