Warren County Jail received a surprise inspection from the state last week. According to Sheriff Tommy Myers, the feedback was positive.

“He said that he could not believe what we had accomplished,” said Myers. “He commented about the cleanliness of the jail and how much we’ve fixed, including broken toilets, showers and structural damage.”  

The positive update came as welcome news given last year’s bleak inspection by Tennessee Corrections Institute program coordinator Bob Bass, who in September 2018, informed county commissioners their jail was in trouble. 

“I hope I can get an escort to the edge of town,” said Bass. “I come with bad news. Your jail is in trouble. I’m sure most of you are aware of that.”

Bass said the issues have been longstanding and the jail was on the brink of being decertified by the state in 2019.

“Warren County was put on notice in 2013 that something needed to be done,” said Bass. “That was five years ago. I’m not bringing you the first news of this. I presented my program on Dec. 12, 2014. It was set up by resolution Feb. 26, 2015. I conducted a snapshot on March 17, 2015, which means I went in and took pictures of the jail, looked at the jail population. I did a mini-study of who’s in that jail, what their charges were, why they were sitting in that jail. I presented it May 19, 2015.”

Since that time, Myers and staff have been working to improve conditions in anticipation for a recertification inspection. Myers says he and his staff are in the process of improving cameras, lighting, locks and monitors.

“We’re getting new lights in the entire jail and we’ve talked to several inmates who’ve given positive feedback and they aren’t tearing things up now,” said Myers.

The jail is awaiting official results from last Wednesday’s inspection. Myers is expecting the news in the coming days.