WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The Warren County Board of Supervisors has voted to release the design request for proposals for a new Warren County Jail on US 80.

Vicksburg Post reported the request for proposals will be reviewed by a lawyer before being made public. The board will begin accepting proposals for the project once it has been published.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the jail needed upgrading, citing several issues with the facility. The prison was built in 1907 and modernized in 1977.

Only 92 of the total 128 beds are functional and entire cell blocks cannot be used. One block cannot be used due to a faulty locking system and another cannot be used due to damaged plumbing.

Pace noted that misdemeanor inmates and felony inmates cannot be housed together. This prevented the prison from housing misdemeanor inmates. Instead, they are sent to other counties. Having inmates housed in another county’s jail means that the sheriff’s office must pay for the inmate’s housing and transportation.

He said the new facility is expected to accommodate 300 to 350 people. He also said a larger facility would allow for the reintroduction of programs such as life skills, GED and road cleaning programs.