MACON, Ga. — Wednesday marks one year since four inmates escaped from the Bibb County jail.
The jail break exposed problems with staffing, technology and the physical condition of the jail building itself.
Since then, 13WMAZ has followed the steps that Bibb County has taken to improve its lockup, including approving millions for security measures and land purchases for a new jail.
But how much has changed in the past year?
13WMAZ asked to speak to Sheriff David Davis and Mayor Lester Miller about their progress since last year.
Both Davis and Miller declined an interview. The sheriff's office also denied our request for a tour of the jail.
Regardless, with the Bibb Jail escape one year ago, we're taking a look at what we know about what's changed — and what hasn't.
Lack of communication?
Commissioner Virgil Watkins Jr. says he sees a disconnect between county leaders on the jail problems.
"If the idea of having a hardened, terrible facility for folks to reside in when they are punished was an actual reform measure that worked, Macon-Bibb has been doing that for years," Watkins said. "And we've seen no actual change in the conditions. That's what we've been doing. It's a terrible place, we all agree."
So far, there is still no timeline for when and where a new jail could be built.
Watkins and others say they still have questions about conditions inside the current one.
"I know that over the past couple of years, they've reported less to the county commission, and I assume the Mayor's Office, about the conditions and the progress than I've ever seen before," Watkins said. "So, it's a general lack of communication."
Commissary Funding
In the weeks after the Bibb County jailbreak, Sheriff David Davis put part of the blame on cell locks that didn't work.
In November 2023, Macon-Bibb commissioners agreed to dedicate $1 million toward immediate improvements. That included new magnetic locks for the oldest wings in the jail like the one the four inmates escaped from.
The money comes directly from the inmate commissary fund, which means the inmates themselves would pay.
13WMAZ spoke with Sheriff Davis in April about these new locks.
"When it's closed, it's closed. It is several thousand pounds of pressure on that magnet lock, and you cannot open it," Davis said. "And it also stabilizes the door because when those magnets are connected, it's solid."
The county tripled that amount in April, adding another $2 million.
A new home
Meanwhile, the county is eyeing land along lower Poplar St. as the site of a new jail.
Last year, Mayor Lester Miller said he plans to put a new jail on the 2025 SPLOST. Davis says while construction can't start until well after voters decide in 2025, they would be able to start planning for it, starting with a location.
In May, Mayor Miller told 13WMAZ it's part of a bigger plan for public safety.
"I think that's probably the only place that we have in our inventory after these sales that you could have a potential complex. I'm also interested in expanding the 911 and EMA center as well, so it gives you a nice little potential there for a complex," Miller said.
Now, the county's nearing its collections cap and it's almost time for a new SPLOST. Mayor Lester Miller projects the current $280 million SPLOST will reach that cap in June 2025. Current and incoming Macon-Bibb commissioners will need to act quickly.
"There's no getting around the fact that at some point in time, we're going to need a new detention facility. It's going to be either upgraded or rebuilt," Miller said.
Current Conditions
Watkins says he's heard firsthand accounts from former inmates, some who have been released within the past few weeks.
"They see a lot of fighting, you're sleeping on the floor. There's not a lot of control happening. I very much believe the comments that I hear and I've heard it multiple times," Watkins said. "Depending on the wing that you're on, the experience can be vastly different."
Watkins says Bibb County needs programs to support inmates better and to prevent repeat offenders.
But he says those issues are overshadowed by staffing and pay concerns.
"It's tough on the staff, it's tough on the inmates there. That is the jail no matter if we decide to build a jail tomorrow that we'll be using. There's more about reform and rebuilding and restoration versus...we're only staffed with punitive measures and people with police violence," Watkins said. "That balance is sadly something I've done poor job in advocating for, but I still feel like there's a space for it here."
Now, as Macon-Bibb county nears its next SPLOST vote in 2025, the jail's future could soon be up to voters.
"It requires a bit of a mindset change. Either we're gonna pay for these things to the point we're trying to see aggressive improvement, or we will stay where we are. We continue to be slightly dissatisfied," Watkins said. "Sadly, the way things are going, probably get more flare-ups and more incidents."