“It’s a need”: Ground broken on $70M jail in Elmore County
ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. (WAKA Action 8) – Elmore County leaders and the community came together Monday to break ground on a $70 million dollar jail expansion.
The former jail was built more than 30 years ago, and held around 240 inmates. While the jail met the needs at the time, leaders say the new jail will help with overcrowding and updated services.
The new $70 million jail will have more amenities, and will double the amount of beds to 480.
“Nothing sexy about a jail. Nobody ever wants to spend their tax money on a blame jail, but dag’blame’it it’s a need, whether you refer to it as an asset or liability, you gotta have one,” says Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin.
“Overall facility being new will provide a better environment for our officers that work there everyday; that keep the place running,” says Parker Crosby, the jail’s warden. “It’ll also provide a better environment for the inmates that are in our care daily. It also provides more room for us to bring in more programs for the inmates to help them achieve life skills that will help them once they get out in our community be productive citizens.”
The new jail is expected to be completely built by spring of 2028.
