Liberty Co. Sheriff's Office sounds alarm for new jail
LCSO said they are holding things together with tape and Band-Aids at the county jail. He said the more than 30-year-old facility is no longer meeting the needs of the growing population and that it's time to expand.
WSAV spoke with Deputy Chief Al Hagan about the conditions.
'If you walk through the facility, you see where we're having to patch piping, where the copper pipe was put inside of concrete, air conditions are constantly breaking down,' he said.
Hagan said it's an outdated facility that isn't safe for inmates or staff. The hope is the new jail will have a space for positive inmate programs and allow staff to do their jobs more efficiently.
'What we look at by having places to do programs allow us to send a better citizen back into the street instead of just bringing them here and warehousing people and turning them out the same person or worse, when they go back into the community,' said Hagan.
The current facility has around 276 beds, 305 as the maximum of prisoners. Hagan told WSAV it is running near capacity every day. They are also housing federal inmates, while also holding prisoners from neighboring counties. In addition, we're told the ratio of toilets and showers per inmate is below state standards.
'Also, the county jail has become what I call the de facto mental health facility, because we have a lot of issues with mental health and a large percentage of our inmates has some form of mental health and so on,' Hagan said. 'Of course, our statewide facilities are not able to hold them all and we're having to try our best and I think we have four medical beds here for true medical issues.'
A state evaluation revealed the county is in need of over 650 beds to keep up with future growth. However, the sheriff's office is pushing for at least 550, which would be cheaper and easier on taxpayers.
Hagan said construction of a new jail could cost anywhere between $75-$100 million.
'It's mandated that the Sheriff's Office provide this service to the community,' he said. 'And so, I ask them to be mindful of it, understand that SPLOST is a way. When the SPLOST comes up, make sure they vote in favor of it because it will help offset the cost of this deal compared to what citizens pay straight from increased taxes.'
He continued, 'I tell folks what growth comes crime. and we need to be prepared as we can in every way.'
Hagan said shovels could be in the ground by early next year.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Dr. Pepper zero recall upgraded in Georgia, South Carolina
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Dr. Pepper is recalling over 19,000 cases of their Zero Sugar soda in three Southern states. The recalled sodas, which are labeled as having zero sugar, actually contained the full sugar product. Because the cans were mislabeled as having zero sugar, they could cause a health risk for diabetics or others who need to limit their sugar intake or avoid it altogether. The voluntary recall was initiated for Zero Sugar Dr. Peppers with a best by date of Feb. 16, 2026, in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. The sodas were sold in 12-pack and 24-pack cases of 12-ounce cans. The affected product code is XXXXRS05165. The FDA upgraded the recall to Class II last week due to the health risks associated. If you purchased Dr Pepper drinks matching these descriptions, you can return them to the place you purchased them for a full refund or safely dispose of them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Grant applications roll out in response to Georgia opioid crisis
ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) — The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust works to eradicate and prevent the opioid crisis. In 2022, Georgia secured $638 million from settlements with major pharmaceutical companies and an additional $13 million from McKinsey & Company to combat the opioid crisis. The funds go to support initiatives like expanding treatment options, increasing public awareness and providing life-saving naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan. Governor Brian Kemp said, 'Like every other state, the opioid crisis has hit Georgia communities and families hard and with lasting effect. These funds will help us fight the good fight against the disease of addiction, help us make our communities more secure and help us see that justice is done for the victims of these opioid manufacturers and distributors.' The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (GDBHDD) says opioid-related overdoses have killed more than 650,000 people over the last 25 years, with a 200 percent increase between 2010 and 2020. Kevin Tanner, State Commissioner for the GDBHDD, said of the settlement, '$479 million of that money will flow through the trust over the next 18 years and out of that, 60 percent will go statewide initiatives, and 40 percent for regional initiatives. We opened that first opportunity for grants last year.' Apply online for the funds through Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
School's out but the heat is up! How to keep your kids safe
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – When the sun is shining, kids love to play, but the temperature is rising – and heat danger and exhaustion can happen fast. It is important to keep them cool and hydrated as children's bodies heat up three to five times faster than the average adult. Be careful on the playground. high temperatures and the beating summer sun can heat up the equipment and burn children's skin. The temperature on my WSAV Weather App says 84 degrees. The temperature of the slide with my thermometer says 121 degrees! That's about a 35 degree temperature difference so always make sure to check playground equipment before children climb or sit. Dr. Ashley Cheek, Pediatrician at Memorial Health, says 'The playground equipment looks the same all year round, but depending on what the weather is that day, it can be very hot and can cause really severe burns. even third degree burns.' To avoid injuries or burns, make sure to plan time outside away from the heat of the day or in the shade. The best time to be outside would be in the morning or the evening. Dr. Ashley Cheek also says 'I think it's an important point and especially for the summer is when you're going to the park, try to go before 10am or after 4pm. Those are the best times as far as sun exposure for kids. Playground equipment in direct sunlight also causes a risk of heating up quickly or even slowly and still causing damage.' If you have to be outside during the heat of the day when the sun is the highest in the sky, the best way to check equipment is with the back of your hand. It's less tough making it easier to feel the heat. It's also easier to pull your hand away to avoid getting burned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
