Camden Jail Subject of Debate

CAMDEN COUNTY, GA -- The County is outgrowing its jail and now the big debate is what to do.

Some want a new building at a new location. The Sheriff wants to expand the current location.

The jail now is in the middle of a Woodbine neighborhood. It's been there for decades.

Alysha Henning, who lives near the jail, says she is against an expansion. She says more criminals means trouble. "I don't want it here. I have small kids."

The jail holds 120 inmates. Sheriff Thomas Gregory says on any given day he is dealing with 200 or more inmates.

"I'm not asking for more money. I'm not asking for more staff. I'm just asking for permission to add more beds so we can house inmates properly and safely.

Henning says instead of an expansion, the County needs to build a new jail at a new location.

"We can't afford to build a new jail at another location at this time. I feel their pain," says Sheriff Gregory.

The Mayor of Woodbine says he is against the expansion. He is looking for other community input on the matter. A town hall meeting will be held this Thursday at City Hall. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

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