What's inside Sullivan County's new $107 million jail

KINGSPORT — It's been a long time coming for Sullivan County's new $107 million jail since construction began in March 2022.On Monday, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said the facility is close to opening and will offer a complete transformation of living and working conditions.While the jail was originally expected to be open by now, funding delays have pushed back the timeline for moving inmates into the new facility.Cassidy spoke at the Republicans of Kingsport monthly meeting, where he updated members on the progress made so far on the new jail.He began by walking the audience through photos of the county's original jail which opened in 1987, pointing out issues including poor infrastructure, blind spots and plumbing problems. Although an extension of the jail opened in 2005, both facilities have struggled to manage the influx of inmates.The existing jail, which is designed to house 619 inmates, now holds between 900 and 1,000.One photo Cassidy shared was a room housing five inmates together that were all on suicide watch.He also showed a two minute video of a physical fight that broke out between inmates in a cell, which he said was a result of overcrowding."When you've got 35 inmates in a cell which should only house 16, this is what you get," Cassidy said. "It's disorganized, it's a mess. This is a 24/7 operation, housing the worst of humanity, people who vandalize, destroy and fight."With multiple blind spots and overcrowding cells, drug contraband is a persistent threat.In 2021, the jail received a body scanner paid for in full by Ballad Health which helped alleviate the problem. Still, Cassidy said, the jail has not remained "drug-free."Inside the new jailThe new jail will offer 764 new beds — all in two-man, pod-style cells that were pre-built in Georgia."These things rolled in with plumbing and electrical already built in," Cassidy explained. "It saved time and money, and they're built for safety and efficiency."One of the biggest upgrades is security and visibility. The facility has more than 500 cameras, all tied into a modern operations center where officers can monitor every inch of the jail in real time."Our old control rooms were cramped and outdated," Cassidy said. "This new operations center is wide open, well-lit, and designed so the staff can actually see and respond to what's going on."Another improvement is inmate recreation and rehabilitation. Each pod has access to its own enclosed yard, allowing inmates the legally required hour of outdoor time per day.The new jail also includes dedicated classrooms and worship spaces in contrast to the old jail, where faith-based services were sometimes held in hallways due to lack of space."We've had to use our church area for GED classes and counseling," Cassidy said. "Now, we can finally separate those spaces and give our inmates a real opportunity for rehabilitation."The medical wing has also been completely redesigned."We're talking about 650 to 700 inmates on medication — some with cancer, some HIV-positive," Cassidy said. "This new medical facility gives our staff the space and resources they need to do their jobs safely and professionally."Then there's the kitchen and laundry, which Cassidy described as "state of the art."The kitchen is equipped to serve up to 2,700 meals a day, with a full assembly line layout and designated wash stations.The laundry room, complete with new industrial washers and dryers, can handle the constant rotation of clothing and linens for nearly 1,000 inmates."There's no comparison," Cassidy said. "What we have now is two washing machines for 950 people. It's laughable."Even inmate property storage has gotten a high-tech upgrade. Cassidy showed the audience a new system where staff can search for an inmate's name, and the proper storage compartment will slide out automatically."Right now, it's just plastic bags on hangers," he said. "With this, it's going to be organized and secure."The new jail will also include a padded safety room, designed for suicidal or severely mentally ill inmates who pose a danger to themselves."We've never had a space like this," Cassidy said.The transfer of inmates to the new jail will begin in six to eight weeks, he said. Once the new facility opens, the current jail's extension will be shut down, and staff will be reassigned to the new building.The existing jail will remain open due to the continued need for bed space. Cassidy said the next priorities for the old facility include HVAC upgrades and roof repairs.