Current jail, over a century old,
labled a “dungeon” by one state
corrections official
MONTICELLO – The long-debated construction of a new Sullivan County Jail could get off the dime in the next several months.
Cost and size of the facility have been debated for years in the cash-strapped county. The state, which has mandated construction of a new jail to replace the oldest one in the state, has been working with county officials understanding the financial constraints.
Sheriff Michael Schiff is hoping for one milestone in the process to be achieved in the not-too-distance future.
“We are hoping the plans will be done and that this legislature can look at it before the election or shortly after the election or when the new legislature is seated and hopefully get some direction of where we are going to go with those plans,” Schiff said. “We are hoping that by the end of the year here plans are finalized and ready to go.”
The cost of a new jail has been estimated at some $50 million to $80 million. A few years ago, the county purchased a potential site, off Exit 104.
