Oak Ridge Today

Jail’s workhouse designation allows some inmates to keep jobs

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Anderson County Detention Facility Expansion

The 212-bed expansion of the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton is pictured above while still under construction in December. The expansion allows the county to declare the jail a workhouse, which lets some qualified low-risk offenders keep their current employment.

CLINTON—Some qualified low-risk inmates will be able to keep their jobs even after sentencing now that the Anderson County jail has been declared a workhouse, officials said Monday.

When a judge agrees, the inmates could continue their current employment, stay at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton when they’re not at work, and pay $15 to $17.50 per day for their jail time.

Female inmates judged to be low-risk offenders might be able to spend a few hours at home with their families and children, Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager said.

The Anderson County Commission unanimously declared the jail a workhouse after a brief discussion during a Monday night meeting. Yeager said the designation has been allowed for some time under Tennessee law, but Anderson County is only able to use it now because the jail is being expanded, giving deputies more room to house and segregate inmates. [Read more…]

AC Commission to consider workhouse designation for jail

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Anderson County Detention Facility Expansion

The 212-bed expansion of the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton is pictured above under construction in December.

When it meets on Monday, the Anderson County Commission will consider a resolution declaring the Anderson County Jail as a county workhouse.

The proposal was unanimously approved on Monday by the county’s Operations Committee. If approved Monday by the full Commission, it will give judges more options when sentencing certain offenders. Additionally, some inmates could get time taken off their sentences in exchange for days spent on county work details.

The resolution declaring the jail a workhouse will allow some offenders to serve their jail sentences at night after being allowed to go to their jobs or in some cases to take care of their families during the day. [Read more…]

Anderson County commissioners reject jail referendum on federal prisoners

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Anderson County Commission Jan. 2014

The Anderson County Commission rejects a proposal for a non-binding referendum in August on whether federal prisoners should be housed at the expanded county jail.

CLINTON—Anderson County commissioners rejected a proposal on Tuesday to ask voters in August whether federal prisoners should be housed at the expanded county jail.

The vote was 10-4 against the proposal for the non-binding referendum.

Earlier this month, the Anderson County Legislative Committee had recommended that the full commission consider the referendum, which was proposed by Anderson County Commissioner Dusty Irwin. He represents District 3, which includes the Andersonville, Fairview, Norris, and Glen Alpine precincts, and Irwin’s constituents live in the district that includes the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton. [Read more…]

Letter: Citizens Police Academy teaches about protecting, serving

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To the Editor:

The Oak Ridge Police Department has recently announced that it is in the process of recruiting for the 2014 class of the Citizens’ Police Academy. As a graduate of the 2013 class, please allow me to warn prospective applicants what they are in for if they are selected.

You are going to work your butt off. You will not be spending time listening to boring lectures. You will get your hands dirty in various activities from lab work that will make you think you could be a member of C.S.I. to standing on the firing range under a beautiful star-lit sky aiming a Glock service revolver at a target and squeezing the trigger.

You are going to be inundated with paperwork. The realm of research would call it primary source documents from judges, various section heads, representatives of community groups that interact with local law enforcement, and contacts from federal agencies. Trust me, no stone will go unturned. [Read more…]

Small fire causes minor damage at Anderson County jail expansion

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Anderson County Detention Facility Fire

A small fire Monday morning caused minor damage to a section of the Anderson County jail that is being expanded. (Photo courtesy Larry Davidson/Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

CLINTON—A small fire Monday morning caused minor damage to a section of the Anderson County jail that is being expanded.

A construction worker on the roof of the 212-bed expansion was welding with a torch at about 11:15 a.m. Monday when it set insulation on the outside of the building on fire, Anderson County officials said. The insulation was between vinyl siding and concrete block, said Larry Davidson, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department captain and acting chief jailer.

The fire was contained to the outside of the Anderson County Detention Facility, and no one was injured. There was no water or smoke damage, but the fire burned a small hole in the side of the building, Davidson said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson retires

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Avery Johnson Retirement

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, center, has retired after working for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for almost 33 years. Also pictured are Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, right, and Chief Deputy Mark Lucas. (Submitted photo)

Chief Jailer Avery Johnson has retired after working for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for almost 33 years.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White announced the retirement this week.

Johnson began his career with the department in February 1981, a press release said. After working in patrol, Johnson was assigned to the jail, and he was promoted to sergeant in charge of the jail operations in March of 1984. As the responsibilities of the jail operations increased, Johnson was promoted through the ranks of lieutenant, captain, and later, chief jailer. [Read more…]

Anderson County Republican Party has open house Tuesday

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have a community open house between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge.

“This is an opportunity to learn about the Republican Party and meet local office holders and candidates, who will be there to share ideas and gain input for the upcoming elections,” a press release said.

The Midtown Community Center is located at 102 Robertsville Road, at the intersection with Oak Ridge Turnpike. Refreshments will be served. [Read more…]

Man injured after burglars push him out of loft

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Information from WYSH Radio

An Anderson County man was seriously injured Thursday night when he was pushed out of his barn loft by a pair of alleged burglars.

Jack Archer, 55, spent Thursday night lying in the rain and the cold after the incident, which he says happened shortly before midnight on Thursday at a barn off of Norris Freeway in Heiskell. [Read more…]

Anderson County budget: No tax hike, ACSD still seeking funds

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Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Information from WYSH Radio

After a lengthy meeting Thursday evening, the Anderson County Budget Committee recommended approval of a budget proposal that leaves property tax rates at their current levels.

The budget proposal will be the subject of a public hearing on May 30 and will be deliberated in June by the full County Commission. It will be up to commissioners to decide what to do about funding the Anderson County Sheriff Department’s request for hiring 34 new jailers at the soon-to-be-expanded Anderson County Jail and funding requests for new vehicles and equipment. [Read more…]

Committee recommends Rouse Construction for jail expansion

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An Anderson County committee has unanimously recommended that Rouse Construction Co. of Knoxville be awarded the contract to build a 240-bed pod to help ease overcrowding at the Anderson County jail.

Rouse had submitted a bid of $9.66 million, the lowest of six proposals received, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

[Read more…]

Anderson County jail expansion bids opened

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Bids on the project to expand and renovate the Anderson County Jail came in within the expected price range when they were opened Thursday, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

The apparent low bid of $9.66 million was submitted by Rouse Construction of Knoxville, WYSH reported. The other five bids were said to be competitively priced as well.

[Read more…]