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Rutherford County committee approves $650,000 to study new jail options
Summary
The Budget, Finance and Investment Committee approved up to $650,000 to fund a six‑month programming phase to define the size, site and cost of a new or expanded Rutherford County jail after presenters described chronic overcrowding and operational strain at the current facility.
Rutherford County’s Budget, Finance and Investment Committee voted unanimously Feb. 5 to fund a six‑month programming study — not to exceed $650,000 — to evaluate whether the county should renovate, expand or build a new adult detention facility.
Commissioner Gooch, who chaired the corrections partnership study group, told the committee the group concluded "we desperately need a new jail" after touring the county’s adult detention center and reviewing a needs assessment. Commissioners and outside consultants described a facility built for roughly 500 inmates now routinely housing more than 1,000 people and operating near TCI (Tennessee Correctional Institute) capacity limits.
Sheriff Fitzhugh detailed operational…
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