Sheriff’s website updated for new jail
The Sheriff's office has updated their website to include information concerning the "New Jail Project". Elizabeth over at her blog: The REAL News About Douglas County, has made a post about the update and expresses some personal views.
Elizabeth wrote:
The Douglas County Sentinel reported they want TWO six story towers. The plan on their website calls for FOUR three level buildings as well as another mystery building labeled LEC that's four levels. They also want a CAR WASH and a Refueling Center. A large part of the property is marked as hazardous storage. There will be 128 cells per level (and is it any coincidence you can barely see the number one in front of the 28?) in each of the four towers. 128 cells times three levels is 384 cells. 384 cells times four towers is 1,536 cells. Tell me, do we really want this large of a jail in historic downtown Douglasville? There are many other locations this jail could be relocated to. Before they wanted two six story towers. Now they want four three story towers. Still the same number of levels, folks, and will take up twice as much space.
The information on the website is presented from scanned documents stating a few points and frequently asked questions, though the text is difficult to read. One discrepancy is the number of total inmates the current facilities can hold. Stan Copeland, chief deputy sheriff, told the Douglas Neighbor that only 450 was the maximum whereas the website states 480.
The scanned document also states an annual increase of inmates around 6%-7%, though calculating the actual figures produces a rate of 7.86%. Another brief point was that the City of Douglasville is looking to acquire land for the new jail project. However no specifics were mentioned as to whether it would reflect the plans on the website or moving the jail completely.
The expansion diagram goes on to show a conversion of the offices on West Church Street to an inmate worker dorm, a new car wash / refueling station, building four housing towers providing a capacity for 1536 inmates, and other small facilities. Reading the diagram can be difficult because of the ghosting effect on the text.
The one key piece of information that was not presented was the fact that if the new SPLOST resolution is passed, the New Jail Project would become the priority project to become funded before any other project is to become active.
You can contact Stan Copeland at the Sheriff's Office about the New Jail Project and Expansion at 770-920-7136.
