Bradley County’s Correctional Facility has passed its yearly inspection by the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC), which means the facility was found to be in compliance with minimum standards prescribed for local correctional facilities across the state of Tennessee, officials said.
Sheriff Eric Watson said he was informed by jail inspectors during an exit interview that the Bradley County Jail received passing status and would maintain TDOC’s certification. The agency’s Correctional Facility is inspected on a yearly basis to ensure that all minimum standards required by TDOC are met. Those standards required to be met involve documentation on jail operations. Those documents show proof that the jail is ensuring the functions of utilities like lighting, in addition to documentation of disciplinary reports, safety and fire inspections, food service, plumbing and the sanitation of cells, he said.
In preparation for next year’s inspection, the sheriff’s office drafted a renovation plan to install stainless steel inside every shower within the Correctional Facility to help meet TDOC’s standards.
The renovation plan will be presented to the Bradley County Commission in order to utilize monies already allocated in the 2017-2018 fiscal budget to make renovations to the 50-plus showers.
Sheriff Watson stated, “The operation of a county jail is a complex task performed by our agency’s correctional staff. Bradley County Sheriff’s Office passing its fourth consecutive inspection only compliments the quality of our Corrections and Support Services Divisions who work diligently and tirelessly inside the Correctional Facility. While there is a problem such as overcrowding which is common across the state, our employees work hard to ensure a safe and secure operation.”