Unicoi County sheriff shares update with commission about overcrowded jail

ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – On Monday, the Unicoi County Commission met to hear from Sheriff Mike Hensley about an overcrowding issue at the jail. The men’s facility is currently far over capacity.

There are currently 96 inmates housed at the men’s facility, located at the Unicoi County Courthouse Annex Jail. That max capacity is listed as 62. Hensley said the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) recommends it to be even lower, at 54, to allow space for any incoming inmates.

“I worked out a possible plan with other sheriffs to contract the county prisoners out to them to get us back in capacity,” Hensley said. “And open the female facility up and move all the females out and I would move all the low-risk county prisoners out there.”

Hensley said moving all female inmates would open up 38 beds. He said several local jails would be willing to take the women in, but at a cost; three more full time transport officers would have to be hired for this.

“Also in the MOU you have with these other sheriffs, suppose that one of them gets hung up in the hospital and has to stay overnight,” Hensley said. “We would have to send someone to stay with that person.”

After the meeting, Hensley took commissioners to tour the jail so they can see what the overcrowding looks like and why he believes this calls for immediate action.

Hensley said the men’s jail doesn’t even have any more beds available.

“We’re using what they call boats, we do have some of those with the pad in them, but we don’t actually have [anymore] beds,” Hensley said.

He previously told News Channel 11 that a new jail is the best solution to overcrowding, but the funds just aren’t there. Hensley is asking for the county to fund moving the female inmates, and he said the TCI has already agreed.

“I was ready to move them tomorrow, but I’m going to hold off ’til we look at some other options,” he said. “They want me to do that. I’m a team player. We’re against the wall. This should have been done a long, long time ago. But we couldn’t afford it, and we can’t afford it now to build a jail. So I’m doing everything I can to get us in compliance.”

The Unicoi County Mayor and commission recommended getting a CTAS (UT County Technical Assistance Service) needs assessment done first at the men’s jail before taking any action, but time is ticking. Hensley said the jail must comply by January when the next inspection takes place, or face decertification.

“If my numbers are not down and I don’t come in compliance, they will decertify us.”

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