Financing Approved For New Jefferson Davis Jail

The State Bond Commission has approved $10 million for a new jail in Jefferson Davis parish which includes $835,000 for planning and construction of the new facility for that region.

The Bond Commission also approved $9.1 million in future funding, which Police Jury President Donald Woods hopes gets moves up higher and faster on the list of priorities.

For their part, the police jury will contribute $480,000 to the funding for the project with the money coming from an oil and gas lawsuit settlement.

The new facility would include space for 200 inmates which officials say will ease safety and overcrowding issues at their 62-bed facility that was built in the '60's.

The sheriff says their jail is filled to capacity and very outdated.