DAVISBORO, Ga. — Construction is soon set to start behind Washington State Prison in Davisboro as preparation gets underway on a new prison.
It's part of a new budget proposal heading to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk. The state is allocating $436.9 million for the project, and Washington County leaders are on board.
"It's going to have state-of-the art technology in it with state-of-the-art security measures," Sheriff Joel Cochran said.
They're all welcome upgrades for Cochran and his team. They work regularly with the prison staff when there's a contraband drop or an escape attempt.
"There's been a lot of successful prosecutions of violators that come to that facility to bring contraband and illegal stuff to the prison. We've been able to do that because of our working relationship with the staff there," Cochran said.
He's hoping all the added security in the new 1,500-bed prison means more off his deputies' plates.
"We may have somewhat more of traffic with people trying to come in. But I think with the safety features and measurements that the new facility's going to have, I hope that it will deter a lot of that," Cochran said.
Longtime county commission chairman Horace Daniel says it won't just be a safer, upgraded facility. It also represents an economic opportunity for every town near Davisboro.
"Louisville's not but about 15 miles from Davisboro. And if you go on out to the county line it's not that far. Then you've got Wrens. They're going to have people from Wrens and all coming in to work," Daniel said.
Daniel says once construction starts, it will take another three- to-five-years to actually build the prison. The Georgia Department of Corrections says they're still trying to figure out what it might look like and how much of the current prison will be incorporated into the new one.
Washington State Prison has about 1,500 beds currently. It hoses medium and minimum-security inmates. According to the Department of Corrections, that means prisoners generally follow prison rules and have a minimal risk of escape.