Sheriff says plans in the works for new Shelby County Jail
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Plans for a new jail in Shelby County are starting to take shape, according to Sheriff Floyd Bonner.
The county commission approved $200,000 for a study to see why we need a new jail, and what the cost could be.
Sheriff Bonner says the building is 45 years old, and with the wear and tear that goes into a jail, it ages even faster. He says at this point, it’s a safety concern.
Back in 2017, inspectors called the building outdated with old doors, locks, and security devices. Today, Sheriff Bonner told us the company that built the jail has since gone out of business, making repairs difficult and expensive.
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He says the building is falling apart, and with antiquated technology, such as electric sliding doors, it’s becoming dangerous too.
“Milk cartons that the detainees get for lunch, dinner, they’re taking those and putting them in jamming the doors, and our signal at the box on the outside of the pod is showing a green light, which means it’s closed. But actually, the door is able to slide open. So it leads to fights, it leads to all kinds of things because these detainees can get out when they want to instead of when we allow them to,” said Sheriff Bonner.
He says doors in newer jails are on hinges and therefore more secure.
The jail could cost up to roughly $800 million, and Sheriff Bonner hopes to get the ball rolling on financial allocation and plans by the end of the year.
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