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GoogleBoyce made the request during Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee, which was followed by a meeting of the commission's law enforcement and workhouse committee.
Boyce said that space needs at the jail, both for inmates and records, prompted the request, coupled with the fact that the county is not realistically in a position to fund a new jail and justice center as had been discussed in recent months.
He said that the sheriff's department offices could be inexpensively moved to the first floor of the hospital, with booking of suspects in the former emergency room on the building's north side. Most suspects who are booked make bail anyway, said Boyce, and those who don't could be transported to the jail after being booked.
The county's judicial commissioners, probation office and possibly Juvenile Court offices would also move to the first floor of the hospital. Currently, the probation office and the Juvenile Court offices are located in rental space.
Moving the sheriff's office would allow the jail to move its administrative offices into the current sheriff's department offices on Lane Parkway. Boyce said storage of jail records has become a problem.
The immediate proposal is just to move offices, but Boyce said that if it is feasible, the second floor of the old hospital could be used to house the type of non-violent inmate called a "weekender" in jail parlance. The third floor could house female inmates.
Boyce said that using the hospital to house inmates could ultimately free up 57 beds at the overcrowded jail, and Boyce said the added capacity for female inmates would allow the county to accept more female state felons, potentially producing income for the facility.
Boyce said the hospital's basic structure is sound and that engineers have told him it is "a fabulous building."
There are questions about how much it would cost to equip the parts of the building not currently served by fire sprinklers. Officials of Tennessee Department of Corrections are expected to inspect the building on Thursday.
"We feel like we'll know more after Thursday," said Boyce.
Boyce said that, except for sprinkler system improvements, the office relocation could be accomplished within the existing budget using inmate labor.
The former hospital adjoins the county-owned Bedford County Nursing Home, which the county is currently proposing to lease to an outside operator. County Mayor Eugene Ray said that 20 operators have asked for copies of the request for proposals.
It's possible that the nursing home, which some officials say needs a new kitchen, could contract to share some of its food service capacity with inmates housed at the jail, even though the typical jail diet differs from the nursing home diet. No mention was made of whether potential nursing home operators might be deterred by the prospect of inmates next door.
The courthouse committee voted to defer action on the propsal for a month while the sheriff's department gathers more information about the sprinkler system and gets input from TDOC. The courthouse committee proposed that it meet jointly with the law enforcement committee next month to consider the proposal, and law enforcement committee members agreed during their meeting, which followed the courthouse committee's.
In other discussion, Ray said use of Medical Arts Building I by county agencies is going well, and that Middle Tennessee State University expects to place four classrooms in Medical Arts Building II. He said the area between the nursing home and the Medical Arts Building is being cleaned up.
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Is it a good ideal to "house" inmates that close to the nursing home?
This sounds like a smart, practical idea to me.
The county needs to be aware that the north wing
appears to have asbestos on the ceiling above the dropin ceiling which has already has been disturbed in a previous remodeling ,the county does not need a convict sueing for being exposed to asbestos.
Not a bad idea.
That is NOT a smart, practical idea. Housing inmates in a building that is basically attached to a nursing home is very short-sighted. How do you think the residents of the nursing home will feel? Do you think the elderly there will feel safe? There was mention made of the weekenders, but that moved quickly into housing females on the third floor so the county can take "more female state felons". I can guarantee you that my almost 90 year old grandmother who lives there would think that anyone that has or needs to spend time in jail is dangerous. There is not really a "non-violent" category in her mind. I know that she will not sleep well at all if this plan moves forward. And, how exactly do you market a nursing home that is connected to a building that houses drunks and felons?
Easy fix...permanently seal off all entrances to the nursing home.
We had a family member there at the nursing home recently. We came and visited as we please, no one ever questioned us. I think the security there is too lax anyway, inmates or not.
Well I guess that if the County Commissioners ever have to vote on this matter, it won't be very hard to get Mr.Barrett to vote for it.
And that would be an easy fix Jacks if there was a way to ensure that there would never be a security breach that would allow an inmate to escape. Think about it....would you want inmates housed next to a school, daycare, or any other facility that primarily serves groups that can not easily defend themselves? And, I can not help but think about the nursing home residents worrying themselves into a fit wondering when one of the "convicts" was going to break out. It is just not a good idea.
I think it is a great idea. The jail needs more space because people like you who criticize and judge every thing people do put them in the jail to begin with or are on the jury that keeps them there. Just because you did something wrong once does not make you a violent person. If you read the sherriff wants to house NON VIOLENT offenders there. I hardly think that the inmates would be running around outside at daycare nearby or the nursing home. Although I do think it would be a great idea for them to volunteer there. They are understaffed and usually don't have enough people to give the care the elderly need.
What's the difference in housing them there or right in the middle of town next to all our shopping? We could be saying who would want to shop with the inmates right there? There is only one hallway connecting the floor to the hospital and it could be sealed of or have dbl coded doors installed. Sounds like a solution to an empty hospital.
OK, what about the T-G article several months ago that mentioned the HUGE utility bills just to keep the building moderately heated while it was vacant? Seems like I remember it being $40,000 a month, which is $480,000 per year. Can Bedford County's budget and our taxes support such an expenditure.
The building would be great for that but I dont know if that is a great idea with the nursing home attached to it. Just one bad situation or inmate causing problems at the nursing home and the city could face a lawsuit or worse.
I think this is a rotten idea.
Those old folks don't need to worry about their safty or wonder if it's a convict entering their rooms. And wouldn't that make a big difference on putting your family member in that nursing home.I can see the ad now. "Cost is cheap to house your mom or dad or grandma or grand pa.And their neighbor will be convicts."
Gee, that would make me run up there and sign them in.That would really make me want to grow old fast and give me some thing to look forward to.(living next to inmates)
Jail is jail. We should keep them where they are at.If they kept their noses cleaned they wouldn't have to worry how crowded.
Why don't we just build them a Hilton Inn.Give them first class offices and inmate rooms.Give them more reason to want to go to jail. So we the tax payers can support their daily needs.And just forget about the old people who are in the old nursing home. Who worked for a living and try to raise their children the right way. ( Stay out of jail)
THis whole idea is for the birds.........
Personally, I don't think anything should happen to the old hospital except a wrecking ball. I would love to see it upgraded to be used as an assisted living or even indepent living apartments for our elderly, but I know it would be cost prohibative. I don't know what the Dept. of Corrections standards are, but I have a feeling that it will still be cost prohibative, even to move the offices there. As for our inmates, do what the sheriff out west did, put up a tent with cots and a very high fence surrounding it and let them stay there, esp. for the non-violent offenders. If they are non-violent, it should encourage them to behave, I know it would me if I was in that situation. Jail should not be a place where they are encouraged to stay, it should encourage them to stay away.
Classic argument..... not in my backyard..... if not there, then where?
I have a relative in the Bedford County NH and have no problem with making the old hospital into a minimum security holding area. Some of you people will whine about everything.
Would you rather pony up about $20 Million and try to build a new jail, because you may not know this but we are close to being out of compliance again. Last time this happened, a short sighted County Court Commission was forced to build and they put up a 120 bed facility and moved 112 into it on the first day. They are now over capacity. So you have a choice....use the old hospital, build new or let the criminals walk free on "probation"
sameoldstory . . . I am sure you would "whine" if they decided to put the same kind of facility in the same building with a school. What would be the difference?
Some are just stating their opinion and the fact that it could set up a potential problem or even lawsuit . . . if that is whining to you then I guess anyone with a different opinion than you is a whiner.
BTW . . your post would be considering whining also. :-)
So many worried about an 'escaped inmate' going into the nursing home....Guess what? Anyone can get into the nursing home and they are never checked and never questioned. There is not any security there.
I think it's a great idea to have non-violent offenders even volunteer. Goodness knows they use the extra help in cleaning up.
I like the idea of using the old hospital building for something but think this is just the wrong use.
Not a good idea at all!
Our elderly deserve better and I hope ALL of our county offical see that!
Dixie...I don't seem to be the one judging other folks. As we say in the South Darlin', when you point a finger at someone there are three pointing right back at you. And, if you will read the article carefully, you will clearly see that after the talk of "non-violent" criminals, there was mention of housing women "...and Boyce said the added capacity for female inmates would allow the county to accept more female state felons, potentially producing income for the facility." Please notice the word felons and apply some critical thinking about what that could mean.
Some of the inmates might treat the elderly just as kind as anyone else would. NOTE everyone in jail is not a bad person
To our County Officals.....Please see that this doesn't happen.
My 2 cent's worth:
The mayor and Mr. Daniel have done a fabulous job so far of securing the Medical Arts Buildings and enforcing rules that the hospital never cared to enforce when it was over there. I am confident they will implement good security measures for the nursing home if they use the old hospital.
>>Classic argument..... not in my backyard..... if not there, then where?
And I think those exact words could have been used when it was considered for a Homeless Shelter. But it was said that a Homeless shelter would not be a good idea so close to the nursing home and the building was not in good enough shape to house the Homeless...but yet it is okay for a jail?
jaxspike.... Then answer the tougher questions. Where would you want a jail and how much are you willing to pay for it? May I remind you that we don't have alot of money in this town and revenue is going down. That being said, a Federal Judge could case less if we can afford a facility or not. They will just say "Build it or make other arrangements"
I have said all along, it's time to either sell the Nursing Home or shut it down. The county doesn't need to be in the health care business because we can't afford it. The hospital is perfect for a jail. I would say the same if it were located across the street from Harris Middle School.
Dianatn.... good point but one problem.
We aren't under any federal court orders to have a homeless shelter, but if the overcrowding continues, we will be under a Federal Court Order to provide a different facility to house our prisoners.
Sell the nursing home and get the county out of the healthcare business. Bulldoze the present building and then build the jail. I'm not really concerned about the location, afterall our present jail is in the middle of town. I'm curious to know about the security measures at the medical arts building, last time I was there it was looking rather neglected, so has something changed in the last couple of months?
This is a good idea. We must keep expanding jail space as our population grows. A certain percentage of the population will commit crimes and, therefore, we must keep expanding space for them.
I agree Jacks, security at the nursing home is definitely not up to snuff. However, this plan is sound and well thought-out. Sheriff Boyce would not have suggested such a move if he were not certain that he could ensure the safety of the nursing home residents. Besides, they plan to house only weekenders and females at the hospital site. These are inmates who pose minimal risk, for the most part. Granted, some female offenders can be a pain, but with some security measures in place, there is no reason to believe they can't be maintained safely. Personally, I think it's a great idea. The jail is in desperate need of some relief, and this is currently the most cost-effective option.
You said it right. The hospital is just right for a jail. In fact why not move them all out to the new hospital. They aready have everything in place to rob you when you walk in the doors. They hold you up like Jessie James but without a gun. So, Yes move the inmates out there. The county has already screwed up on that and all they have to do now is to put the older folks out with go place to go and move the work house inmates there. That goes right along with the idea of not building a four lane to Tullahoma because the people of Shelbyville would go out of town to shop and have a good meal.
I think this is a good idea to make use out of the space. These weekender/short term inmates are not violent murderers. Now if it was violent criminals that might be another story. Especially if it will help bring more tax dollars to our county. Heck, who wants their tax dollars to build a new jail. No way, i would rather my tax dollars to go towards building new schools and other things for our county than a new jail! It cost money to tear it down/renovate/or leave it vacant. We should make use of this investment. i wish we could find a use for the old Harris Middle school building too. I hate to see it set there empty along with other buildings along Madison St. Hopefully Madison St will be revamped too.
I think this is a good use of a building the county already owns, but some security measures should be put in place for the nursing home. I DON'T think the jail ought to be a money making business..they let too many people out on probation for lack of space at the jail.Send the state inmates to the state and use that space to house some of the hundreds of repeat offenders that get constantly let out on probation. Slapping the hands apparently isn't working. People get their probation revoked and they put them right back on probation. This makes no sense to me. What is the penalty for commiting a crime if they keep letting them all go home? Fines & costs? that's the only penalty? Those usually don't get paid anyway. What are they going to do if they don't pay? Revoke their probation? Judge Rich will just put them back on probation..It's crazy. We need a Sessions judge with some stones. First time offenders should get probation, everyone else should be doing jail time even if they have to stack them up on top of each other. It's not our job to keep the thugs of this town comfortable. The judges in the higher courts are the only ones who seem to care about cleaning the criminals off our streets. Judge Russell and Judge Cregler aren't afraid to put someone in jail. They are this towns saving grace. Send all the theives and hoodlums to them!
How much is the conversion of the hospital going to cost the taxpayers? Never saw it mentioned in the article...? What is the workhouse facility for? Isn't this for "non-violent" offenders? The renovations alone will be extremely costly. In this economy, the sheriffs department should make due with what they have and not have to go to the county and ask for more money...again!