Bradley County officials tout opening of new inmate facility [video, photos]

Lt. Allan Walsh, superintendent of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office work release program, gives a tour of the new Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. Lt. Allan Walsh, superintendent of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office work release program, gives a tour of the new Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn.

By Emmett Gienapp July 28, 2017 4 min read

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In the workhouse: Bradley County, Tenn., officials tout opening of new inmate facility

Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis speaks during the opening of the Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson speaks during the opening of the Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Brian K. Smith speaks with the media after the opening of the new inmate workhouse, named in his honor, on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

Inmate bunks are seen at the Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

Inmate toilets are seen at the Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

A bin for personal effects sits next to a bunk at the Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Brian K. Smith speaks at the opening of the new inmate workhouse, named in his honor, on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Brian K. Smith, third from the left, cuts the ribbon on the new inmate workhouse named in his honor on Thursday, July 27, in Cleveland, Tenn. The new inmate workhouse allows low-security inmates the opportunity to work in the community while still serving their time.

In a few short days, dozens of nonviolent offenders in the Bradley County Jail will transition into a newly opened part of the facility – the Brian K. Smith Inmate Workhouse.

Officials hope the 128-bed, low-security building will help relieve perennial overcrowding issues at the Tennessee jail and give qualified offenders the opportunity to continue supporting themselves and their families while serving time for small charges. Workers broke ground on the project in July 2016.

“After 14 1/2 years, here is the culmination of a lot of hard work,” said Rick Kienlen, misdemeanor probation director, during a Thursday morning unveiling of the facility. “Now the real work begins.”

Inmates housed in the new $3.1 million facility will be able to leave on a daily basis to work in the community at businesses validated by jail officials and will readmit themselves by the time of their set curfew each night.

Brian Smith, chief deputy of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and the man for whom the new facility is named, said it would allow individuals serving time on minor charges to maintain some continuity in their lives.