NEWPORT-The Tennessee Corrections Institute has again denied certification to the Cocke County Jail as an accredited correctional facility.

     

"All the problems that have come up that need to be addressed have been taken care of within our power," said Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange, who, according to state law, has the responsibility to manage his county's jail(s).

     

Strange said the main issue the jail faces is not one uncommon to correctional facilities: overcrowding. Strange said this is a problem felt in all 95 counties within the state and that Cocke County's jail doesn't hold sway to the issue. "It's a problem in every county," said Strange, who noted most of the items listed in the state's evaluation of the jail were minor.

     

"We have prisoners who are awaiting trials. We could send them to Nashville, but they (Nashville) only notify us when they have beds available." According to Jail Administrator Janice Sexton, the Cocke County Jail (Annex) has a maximum capacity of about 120 inmates. Strange said the old jail, located on the upper floor of the courthouse, mainly houses inmates who work with the litter crew.

     

Regarding the state's evaluation, Strange pointed out, "One of the issues is ventilation. Since then (last evaluation) we put new air conditioning units on top of it (jail). We replaced the units instead of repairing them. The CLB was gracious enough to provide us the funds."

     

Strange told the Plain Talk he doesn't believe the facility is in as bad a shape as some have claimed. "The CLB sets out funding. The state spent money primarily on the jail itself. The CLB, CCSD and Mayor's Office...we are working together to get this thing in the tip-top shape it needs to be in."

     

As far as overpopulation issues are concerned, as of now, Strange says, "As long as people keep committing crimes, we will put them into jail."

     

Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan Jr. agrees with Strange that overcrowding and the need to build or add to existing facilities continues to be a problem that plagues nearly every East Tennessee county, moreover, the nation. "Not one county in East Tennessee hasn't had to build or redo its current facilities," said McMahan.

     

During McMahan's tenure as county mayor, the Cocke County Jail, which prior to his taking office had never been accredited by TCI, was certified by the corrections institute from 2003 to 2006. McMahan told the Plain Talk many of the issues brought to hand by TCI over the years (uniforms, procedures, record keeping, etc.) have been addressed.

     

"The original jail is 78-years old and it will never become certified and should be used as storage," said McMahan. He continued, "The new building (constructed in the mid-90s) needs to be upgraded. Plus, we need more staffing." McMahan seems pleased with Strange's capabilities with managing the jails. "I think the sheriff is doing an outstanding job."

     

McMahan said Cocke County will have to build a justice center or a jail. According to the mayor, the cost of a new justice center would likely be $16 or $17 million, whereas a jail alone would cost $10 million. "If it's built smartly, you wont make decisions that greatly increase your staff numbers."

     

Currently, the Cocke County Jail is being sued in federal court. McMahan said local government can have a decisive role in how the facility is built and costs. "If we don't move forward (with a comprehensive plan) and do something, the federal courts will come in and tell us how to build the facility." McMahan added, "My feeling is the federal courts are poised to come in and are watching us to see if we move forward. We've done everything we can. We're ready to go, but not without the funding."

     

"If we don't do this, it will come down on us. In January 2006, the CLB did not vote to fund the study. When TCI saw this momentum stop (feasibility study), the jail was decertified within two to three weeks." According to McMahan, one official with TCI, Melanie Gregory, reportedly told the CLB that when it failed to vote on continuing the study, the jail would be immediately decertified.

     

"The CLB has been forthright, as a whole, in addressing this issue until now. The executive branch and judicial branch have done what they can to contribute to the plan. You have to invest some money on a plan that wasn't planned properly."

     

McMahan continued, "Hopefully, the county commission will take great pains in looking at the study. If they don't at least build a jail...if they don't act now, the federal courts will come in." McMahan pointed out similar events took place in Grainger County in recent years.

     

Overall, McMahan said, "I've worked very, very hard with the sheriff's department, CLB and the offices of the judiciary to fund the projects. We've all worked hard together to put together a good plan. (This) is something were going to have to do. You're mandated by state and federal law to treat your inmates humanely."