Henry County, Ala. – After years of planning, the Henry County Jail is set to begin its long-awaited renovation project, officially kicking off on February 3rd. The $8 million renovation, which began taking shape in 2023, aims to enhance the safety of the facility and expand its capacity. Beasley Construction has been contracted to carry out the extensive upgrades.
Sheriff Eric Blankenship detailed the scope of the project, which will involve significant changes to the aging structure. The first phase will focus on demolishing the old dome section of the jail, originally designed as a temporary housing unit. This area will be replaced with a new, more durable brick-and-mortar section. According to Blankenship, this demolition is just the beginning of a lengthy process that will span several years.
“It’s going to be a slow process for us, and there are going to be a lot of growing pains,” Blankenship said. “The first step is tearing down the old dome, and then we’ll start building a new section.”
While the renovation has been highly anticipated by local officials and the community, the project will undoubtedly cause disruptions for law enforcement. Officers will be tasked with moving inmates between different units as construction progresses, a challenge that will complicate inmate transportation and create additional stress for both staff and inmates.
Despite the logistical hurdles, Sheriff Blankenship remains optimistic about the end result. He believes that, while the project will bring short-term difficulties, the newly renovated jail will provide a safer environment for both inmates and correctional officers.
“It’s going to be a difficult process, no doubt,” Blankenship acknowledged. “But once it’s done, we’ll have a much safer, more modern facility that will be better for everyone involved.”
The renovation project is expected to be completed within the next two years, with Beasley Construction given just under 700 days to finish the work. Despite the challenges ahead, local officials are hopeful that the completed facility will provide much-needed improvements to the county’s corrections system.
