Corrections institute OKs jail plans

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

TCI Assistant Director Peggy Sawyer attended a recent meeting of the Jail Oversight Committee. Pictured, from left, are Jail Oversight chairman Herschel Wells, Sheriff Jackie Matheny, architect Jim Armstrong and Sawyer. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Plans for Warren County Jail expansion, barring a few suggested changes, looked good according to Tennessee Corrections Institute assistant director Peggy Sawyer. Sawyer attended a recent meeting of the Jail Oversight Committee to discuss the plans with committee members and jail architect Jim Armstrong.

“They look like good plans,” Sawyer said. “We need to a little bit of changing and revamping, but so far, they look good.”

Sawyer was in attendance to provide advice and make sure the plans would meet state certification requirements. The plans will also have to pass muster with the state fire marshal.

Sawyer felt there would be no problem getting certification if certain criteria were met after the changes.

“Once the changes are made, if the dimensions are right and all the standards, the lighting, the heating, the sight and sound, everything like that, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t certify,” Sawyer said.

Jail Oversight Committee members realize certification is vital and have been working to make sure the expansion meets, or exceeds, all requirements.

State certification is important for several reasons, according to Sawyer.

“There’s three areas certification helps with or covers,” Sawyer said. “Number one, of course, it makes the county more defensible when they get sued by an inmate. And notice I said when, not if. Inmates like to sue.”

Second, Sawyer said certification can affect insurance rates and even the ability to obtain insurance.

Often when a jail loses its certification, its insurance premiums go up, or insurance carriers may choose not to cover the jail at all.

Certification is also important when the county houses state prisoners.

Sawyer indicated she would work with the county and with the architects and builders to help assure the county of certification, even providing informal inspections during construction.