Bradley County Judge Klay McKinney and Sheriff Herschel Tillman are speaking out about the county’s growing need for a dedicated jail facility, citing rising inmate transport costs, increasing caseloads, and public safety concerns.
In interviews this week, both officials emphasized that Bradley County has been without a functioning jail since December 2008. The existing facility cannot be remodeled due to multiple factors, included limited space, city ownership of the building, and the high cost of renovation—estimated to be nearly equal to the expense of constructing a new facility. The current facility is only used for 24-hour holding. All detainees must be transported to neighboring counties under housing agreements, a process that officials say is straining county resources.
“The lack of a county jail impacts more than just the sheriff’s office,” McKinney said. “It affects the court system, the county budget, and our overall operations. It’s a public safety issue, and it’s a financial issue. We’re paying other counties to house our inmates, and those costs keep going up.”
Over the past five years, Bradley County has spent approximately $945,000 on housing inmates elsewhere. As of 2025, the county pays between $55 and $65 per inmate per day with costs expected to rise. These figures do not include transportation expenses such as fuel and labor. Deputies are transporting inmates an estimated 1,500 to 3,000 miles per month, according to Tillman. With only four full-time deputies and two part-time deputies, the sheriff said staffing has become a challenge. “Every time we make an arrest, our deputies are spending hours transporting inmates to other counties,” Tillman said. “That’s time they’re not on patrol in our communities.”
Bradley County is grappling with a growing backlog of unserved warrants, a situation officials attribute to the ongoing lack of local detention space. As of this month, there are 1,801 unserved misdemeanor warrants and 37 unserved felony warrants awaiting action. With no county jail and limited capacity in surrounding facilities, deputies are sometimes forced to transport detainees as far as Fayetteville to secure bed space. The strain mirrors a statewide trend: over the past decade, 18 new county jails have been constructed in Arkansas in response to rising crime and overcrowding.
To address the issue, the county commissioned RQAW Jail Planning to assess local detention needs. The resulting 60-page report outlines a proposal for a modern, secure 80-bed jail facility. The proposed 19,420-square-foot complex would also house the sheriff’s office and the 911 Communications Center. RQAW’s analysis highlighted a sharp increase in felony and misdemeanor cases in Bradley County. Felony cases have jumped 357 percent over the past three years—from 35 to 160—while misdemeanor cases increased 39 percent, from 64 to 89.
The estimated cost of the proposed facility is between $13 million and $15 million. Funding would come from a proposed 1 percent sales tax, which voters will consider in a special election on November 18. If approved, the tax would sunset once the facility is paid off.
“This isn’t a property tax,” McKinney said. “It only applies to purchases made in the county, and it goes away once the project is paid off.”
There are currently no available grant programs for jail construction, according to officials. However, McKinney and Tillman believe the investment is critical for the county’s future.
Local officials are reassuring residents that the construction of a new county jail and sheriff’s office near a residential area will enhance public safety and provide quicker response times for emergencies. Sheriff Tillman emphasized that the facility will be secure, professionally staffed, and built to modern standards, minimizing any impact on surrounding neighborhoods. County Judge Klay McKinney added that having law enforcement resources close by can serve as a deterrent to crime and strengthen community protection, while also improving operational efficiency for deputies. “This is not a prison—it’s a jail,” McKinney said. “It will be one of the most secure in the state because it’s new and includes the sheriff’s office onsite.”
The proposed facility could also serve as a regional detention center, generating revenue by housing inmates from up to three neighboring counties that currently lack their own jails. This added income would help offset operating costs. In addition to the financial benefits, the new jail is expected to create at least 13 jobs, providing a boost to the local economy.
Officials said public meetings will be held to provide updates and answer questions as the project progresses. The public is welcome to attend the monthly quorum court meetings and more information, including a copy of the 60-page analysis from RQAW will be published on the Bradley County Sheriffs Office app that you can download on your smartphone.
“We know this is a significant investment,” McKinney said. “But it’s something we believe is necessary for the safety and sustainability of Bradley County.”
