HUNTSVILLE — Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon says an addition to the county jail is moving from idea to planning discussion, driven by steady population growth, recurring capacity peaks, and the need to keep inmates and staff safe.
“With the growth that we’re having in our county and the capacity numbers in the jail, those numbers have been increasing over the last several years,” McCutcheon said. “They have peaked out at times and they’ve held steady for several months … we realized that hey, we’re going to have to take a serious look at space and capacity.”
McCutcheon said he has begun conversations with Sheriff Kevin Turner and Jail Chief Steve Brooks to evaluate options, including adding a wing on the existing jail property.
“All options are on the table,” he said. “We would definitely like to keep it there on the existing properties where the jail is now; we haven’t put any design on paper, yet. All we’re looking at is that we need to start looking, we need to start thinking about this and we need to get the ball in motion so that we’re addressing the future.”
Capacity, staffing, and an aging facility
McCutcheon described capacity pressures as multifaceted: Beds, staffing, and building systems all at once…