Warren County Jail Recertified By State

The Warren County Jail has been recertified after being removed from a Tennessee Corrections Institute plan of action.

Plan of actions are put into place when a jail facility does not meet minimum requirements. Warren County Major Jason Walker said overcrowding was Warren County’s main problem. Walker said the county put a committee together to work on overcrowding.

“It was the DA’s office, judges, public defender, sheriff’s department,” Walker said. “Just a lot of local leaders, lots of local elected officials were on this committee. It was just a lot of talking and trying to figure out ways to handle the overcrowding and handle the issues going on in the criminal justice system.”

Walker said the county was lucky to be removed from the plan of action without a jail addition.

“A lot of places once you get placed on a plan of action before you get taken off the plan of action must places do an edition,” Walker said. “We were lucky we were able to achieve that without an addition, which is a great thing for the taxpayers of Warren County.”

The Tennessee Corrections Institute worked with the county commission and oversaw jail operations leading to the resolved overcrowding. Walker said regaining the certification is an exciting time for the county.

“It is very good news about being recertified,” Walker said. “We were happy at the hard work of all the employees we have here, and all the things we have accomplished over the years.”

Some structural and lighting issues were also corrected. Walker said the process included inspectors touring the jail with a checklist of standards.