By Joseph McCain
Star-Herald
Demolition is set to begin on Attala County’s former jail on Adams Street, bringing down a facility that has stood for nearly seven decades and long outlived its usefulness, according to county officials said.
The Attala County Board of Supervisors recently accepted a $22,500 bid from Cain Construction to clear the aging structure, leaving only the disposal of remaining contents and confirmation that utilities are disconnected before demolition begins.
Supervisor Brad Whittington said work could begin as early as this week.
“Everything that could be salvaged has already been moved out,” Whittington said.
Sheriff Curtis Pope was tasked with disposing of the jail’s remaining contents, most of which he noted hold little to no value.
The jail, built in 1957, received an addition in 2003 under then-Sheriff William Lee, but even with the expansion the facility struggled to meet modern standards. It was officially closed and condemned by the state in 2016 following years of citations and safety concerns. At present, black mold was throughout one of the buildings.
“The plumbing’s been bad since the 1980s,” Pope said.
Whittington noted, “It’s just far past the point where remodeling or rehabilitation would make sense. At this point, it’s a public safety hazard.”
According to newspaper records the jail was designed to house 34 inmates — 16 state prisoners and 18 county and city inmates — though officials acknowledged that number was frequently exceeded during its operation, drawing repeated warnings from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
County officials said the structure’s design made it difficult to operate safely and efficiently. Narrow doorways, outdated locking systems and poor ventilation were among the long list of deficiencies along with the black mold issues.
“You can see why it had to be shut down,” Pope said during a walk-through of the building.
Attala County presently houses inmates in other facilities, a practice increasingly common among smaller counties across Mississippi.
Whittington said the arrangement allows the county to save money while maintaining adequate prisoner care.
“It can be hard to maintain a jail,” he said. “A lot of counties have found it more cost-effective to house inmates elsewhere and reduce staffing costs.”
Still, Sheriff Pope said he believes every county should ultimately have its own jail.
“That’s always been my belief,” he said. “The county should be able to care for and house its own inmates.”
Whittington added, “Who knows what the future holds, but for now we’re doing what’s in the best interest of the county.”
Once demolished, the Adams Street site will be cleared and left vacant, with future use yet to be determined.
For county leaders, the demolition represents the closing of a chapter in Attala County history.
“It served its purpose in its day,” Whittington said. “But that day is long past.”
