Construction of the new Marion County Jail is more tangible than ever as crews continue working toward the proposed November deadline. The site for the new facility, located off Highway 202 at 221 Randolph Road west of Yellville, dwarfs the current facility. The new enforcement center will replace an almost 40-year-old jail under constant threat of closure for failure to meet minimum state standards. Officials would have been forced to close it and inmates would have been forced to relocate without the construction of a new detention center.
Erric Totty has this report.
Captain Joe Batterton, who has served as the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for over 12 years, says the new state-of-the-art building will hold 60 to 65 beds. Batterton invited KTLO, Classic Hits 101.7 and The Boot news to both the new and old jails for a comparison.
When walking into the current office and jail, it is noticeably clean, yet crowded. Going downstairs, to the Criminal Investigation Division, there is a musty smell in the air often associated with a deteriorating building. The division’s room is approximately 15 feet by 15 feet and has small desks for Batterton, Investigator Sergeant Silas Gibson and Investigator Dustin Beals. The small room also doubles as an “evidence locker” with items from cases under investigation cluttering the floor.
The situation is the same through all of the working spaces in the crowded, old jail, however spirits are bright. Batterton says the new jail will eliminate the cramped spaces and provide much needed, better security.
Batterton says not only will the new facility be safer for staff, it will be safer for the public as well. The new dispatch area will allow personnel to focus on the needs of Marion County’s citizens.
Another added safety feature at the new jail will be a Sally Port, a secure, controlled entryway. The old jail has never had that type of security in place.
During the tour of the new facility, Batterton enthusiastically showed where inmates will be housed, the size of new offices, a new kitchen and an evidence room double the size of the old room.
He says there have been talks of what will become of the old facility, but nothing has been decided.
Plans are underway to possibly put a shooting range at the new facility. Currently officers have to travel to the Boone County’ Sheriff’s Office or the Arkansas State Police shooting range
Batterton has twice served as a jail administrator, a sex offender registration officer, a school resource officer for eight years under Sheriffs Carl McBee, Roger Vickers, Joan Vickers and current Sheriff Clinton Evans. He says the new jail is going to make all of the difference in the world when serving Marion County, and he’s thankful the citizens have shown their support.
Current inmate library
Current kitchen
Current interview room
Deputies working in tight quarters
Current CID and evidence room
The extent of current jail cells
New stacked dorm cells
Captain Batterton shows the layout from a window at the entrance of the new sally port.
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