Warren County Seeks New Jail

The local Jail Advisory Committee wants to build a new jail in Warren county.

Before the jail can be built, the committee must look into various properties, grants and loans to pay for the properties, and go through a local governmental cooperation committee to ensure that the citizens of warren county approve of where the jail will be located.

Consideration of the cost of the jail is currently being talked about, with a survey being taken in order to accurately assess cost of the jail, staffing, rent, and transportation. The study should be done in late October to early November, and a meeting will be held to discuss the survey.

A committee recently voted to take the current county jail location off the table for the location of a new jail, as it would be too close to local schools.

Architects have advised the city to not repurpose the Monmouth City Hall, as was previously proposed, as the building is over 100 years old, and not meant to house a jail.

In the event of a new jail being approved, the possibility of connecting the building with the current Monmouth Police Department will be discussed.

Sean Cavanaugh, Chairman of Building and Grounds Committee Warren County Board, talks about the state of the current jail.

“This is as big, big-time decision. You know, the jail is quite old, the new portion of the jail is over one hundred years old, and that’s the new part. So something has got to be done, because what we have is unacceptable. It’s providing for us now, but that’s not going to last. It is a short window of time on that current jail.”

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