Tennessee Sheriff Pushes for $200 Million Jail

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The sheriff in Shelby County has started a campaign to build a new jail that could cost as much as $200 million, a project that would rival the FedEx Forum, the most expensive construction project in the county’s history.


The new 3,000- to 3,500-bed facility would replace the current jail, which has been in use since 1981. Sheriff Mark Luttrell says a new facility could save the county nearly $20 million a year by improving efficiency and requiring less staff. The new jail would pay for itself and it would be in use long after it was paid for, according to the sheriff.


The jail in use now has 40-bed housing units that each require one correctional officer. A new facility could be built in which one correctional officer would supervise 80- to 100-bed housing units.


A new facility would have to be approved by the county commission, which consists of 13 members.


The county recently considered hiring a private firm to manage inmates. Corrections Corporation of America and The GEO Group both submitted bids that included paying for construction of new facilities and supplying cash incentives of at least $30 million to the county. But Luttrell rejected the bids in December and the plan drew opposition from labor and community activists.