Hamblen County Sheriff goes public with jail overcrowding concerns

HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) - Hamblen county's sheriff going public with his concerns about jail overcrowding.

Sheriff Esco Jarnagin posting those worries to Facebook. Jarnagin posting that the jail has been housing close to 500 inmates at the jail with a maximum capacity of 255.

He writes that since he was elected in 2006 quote "the mayor and commissioners have been informed many times of the needs of their jail with very limited results."

We've covered the overcrowding issue at the jail before. Back in 2011, we told you about inmates sleeping on the floor. Then in 2013, we profiled the sister of an inmate also worried about what her brother was facing there.

We also spoke with Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain.

He says he hadn't seen the sheriff's post but tells us he's presented 3 options to the city commission to help with the problem. Brittain notes that 7 of 14 commissioners begin a new term next month. He's hoping the new commissioners will take the options up at some point.