By Rosana Hughes
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.
DAYTON, Tenn. — Under strict orders from the state to reduce and eliminate its inmate overpopulation, the Rhea County Jail began the process of transferring inmates to counties across the state.
Transfers began Wednesday evening around 6 p.m., said Pam Hixson, bookkeeper for the jail. As of Thursday afternoon, the population was down to 157 from the 205 on Wednesday.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance on Tuesday ordered the jail to reduce its inmate overpopulation by 50 percent within the next 30 days and completely eliminate overcrowding within 60 days.
Hixson said more inmates will continue to be transferred in the following days.
Inmates are being sent to jails in Grundy, Sequatchie, McMinn, Bledsoe, Robertson, north of Nashville, and Perry, south west of Nashville, counties, Hixson said.
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(c)2017 the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.)