Bradley County Commissioners heard an updated presentation on the proposed workhouse release program which includes plans for a new $2.9 million jail addition. It will be designed by Cope Architecture.
The building and release program were approved by the Bradley Commission in February and are intended to serve employed, non-violent criminals currently occupying limited space in the building.
Inmates who qualify could serve their time while being allowed to go to work, reporting back at the end of each day and giving a portion of their pay to the county.
The new “workhouse” and probation office will add 16,546 square feet and could house over 100 inmates. The county is expecting to start bidding for construction in December with construction set to be completed in September 2016.
Both commissioners and committee members who have had a hand in the planning process see the workhouse as a “win-win” situation since it will lessen occupancy issues, diminish costs to taxpayers, and allow non-violent inmates to maintain their participation in society.
Rich Kienlen, chairman of the workhouse committee and director of misdemeanor probation, said that inmates who would otherwise lose their jobs while incarcerated for a month or two would now be able to maintain employment.
He also said that he has over 2,000 outstanding misdemeanor warrants.