Jail Construction Moves Forward

TYLER — Smith County’s downtown jail expansion has made quite a lot of progress since construction began in August 2012. KETK reports it took almost two decades to get the $35 million bond approved by taxpayers, but the vision is finally coming to fruition. Phase one has already been completed at the low-risk facility which includes video visitation, the kitchen, and the laundry. And now county commissioners are working with the architects, contractors, and sheriff’s office on finishing up the downtown facility. Officials say they “just couldn’t be more pleased the way it’s turned out.”

The new jail will be able to house the Smith County inmates who currently have to be sent to different counties. It’s reported that Smith County taxpayers have paid over $20 million to house inmates outside the county. What’s termed a state-of-the-art, maximum security jail will be able to process inmates more efficiently, manage jail population, feed and house hundreds more inmates, and treat inmates with the new infirmary, according to officials.