Dawson County breaks ground on new jail site

DAWSONVILLE - Dawson County broke ground last week on a new jail that will include 240 beds.

Sheriff Billy Carlisle says the new $16 million, 68,000-plus square-foot facility will also bring all functions of the sheriff's office into one building, "It will bring all of our services back into one building to where if someone has business with the sheriff's office they just have to come to one place."

The county broke ground last week on the facility that is adjacent to the current jail. Sheriff Carlisle adds the new detention center has been in the planning stages since 1998. The new jail should open in late 2007.