Commissioners Outlined Plans for New Jail

The estimated cost of the new jail is $38 million.

File Photo 

(Jefferson County, Ind.) - The Jefferson County Commissioners gave insight into the new jail during their meeting on February 20. 

The new jail will be able to house 300 inmates with extra room to expand if needed, the current jail is only able to hold about 190 inmates. As of right now, the current jail is holding 188 inmates in the facility with 71 inmates being housed in facilities out of the county. 

With this increase in beds, it will also save the county money, roughly the county pays $40 a day for those inmates who are housed in the out of county facilities 

The expected time frame that they are looking for to break ground will be November of this year, with hopes to be in the new jail by 2022. The commissioners also gave a rough estimate of the cost for the jail being $38 million, which will be paid for through taxes. 

Commissioner President, David Bramer, stated that they are looking to use the current jail as a facility that helps inmates with both drug addictions and mental health.