DOTHAN, Ala. — Houston County officials have allocated $500,000 to fund a jail needs assessment as part of an effort to address overcrowding and improve conditions at the county jail. The move comes as the facility has struggled to manage inmate numbers exceeding its capacity of 390, with recent counts reaching as high as 430.
The $82,000 assessment will evaluate potential solutions to ease overcrowding, as well as identify areas for improvement in jail operations and infrastructure. County officials acknowledged that many aspects of the facility, which was built in 2001, are outdated and need to be updated to meet modern challenges.
One of the key issues driving overcrowding is the increased number of inmates with mental health issues, many of whom, according to Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe, do not belong in a jail setting. “The state has abandoned those with mental health issues,” Shoupe said, “and they’re now in our jail, where they shouldn’t be. We also need to be better prepared for the transmission of diseases and quarantine procedures, especially in light of the pandemic.”
To address these concerns, the county is not pursuing the expensive option of building a new jail. Instead, plans include adding two additional pods to the existing facility, which would increase capacity by over 100 inmates. Shoupe expressed confidence that this expansion would provide adequate space for the next 20 to 30 years.
In addition to the overcrowding issue, the county is addressing security challenges within the jail. Inmates have previously been able to tamper with locks, raising concerns about safety. To remedy this, the county is investing more than $1 million to install new automated locks and update security measures throughout the facility. While there is no specific timeline for the completion of these upgrades, Shoupe stated that the county is moving forward with a solution that has the support of both the sheriff and jail staff.
Looking ahead, officials hope that the planned expansion and security upgrades will be completed by 2028-2029, providing long-term relief to a facility that has struggled to keep up with the county’s growing needs.
