By Jim Balloch
News Sentinel
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge said Thursday that he is greatly pleased with Knox County’s continued efforts to keep prisoner overcrowding in check.
And Knox County was recently presented an award by the National Association of Counties for its comprehensive efforts to cut its prison population.
But top county officials agree that eventually the county needs a separate facility for many prisoners whose arrests relate directly to mental health, drug or alcohol problems.
“That should certainly happen,” Mayor Mike Ragsdale said. “Not only does it make great economic sense because it will actually save the county money, it is good public policy.”
Knox County officials on Thursday made their regular progress report to U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips in a lawsuit filed in 1986 about overcrowded conditions at its downtown jail. The lawsuit left Knox County under the federal thumb. A new detention facility was built on Maloneyville Road, and the county looked for ways to reduce the number of prisoners being held at all of its facilities.
These efforts have included expanding the work-release program, use of electronic monitoring bracelets in lieu of incarceration, and building a special pod for maximum-security prisoners at the detention facility.
“It is a credit to Knox County that everyone is working together so well to try and find solutions,” Phillips said.
As of Thursday morning, Knox County had 65 fewer prisoners than rated capacity, according to a report filed with the court. The total of 1,089 inmates at all facilities includes inmates on work- release programs and federal prisoners. There were 860 prisoners at the detention facility, 160 in the downtown jail and 69 at the work- release center.
A lingering problem is the mixing of minor offenders whose arrests stem from substance abuse or mental health issues with more serious criminals.
In April, Knox County Commission approved a resolution to research the possibility of developing, in cooperation with Helen Ross McNabb Center, a special facility for inmates with mental health and substance abuse issues.
“I love the concept,” said Mayorelect Tim Burchett. “It is already an issue. We will just have to figure out a way to pay for it.”
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