Wal-Mart Could Be Transformed Into Jail

Channel Cincinnati
Aug. 22, 2005

When Wal-Mart finishes building a new superstore on Lebanon's north end, the old one on the south end could wind up as a jail, housing convicts next to a community of upscale homes, Target 5's John London uncovered.

Jail overcrowding is so bad and so expensive that Warren County leaders are considering every option. That includes soon-to-be-vacant big-box businesses like the Wal-Mart on state Route 48 in Lebanon.

That came as a no-sale to Tara Brake, who lives in the Countryside Estates right behind the store.

"I think there's four hundred homes with a lot of kids. I think it's a bad idea," Brake said.

But Warren County leaders need some fast, temporary space. With the jail at capacity, they will soon have to pay $210,000 a month to send 100 prisoners to Butler County.

Sheriff Tom Arriss showed News 5 the misdemeanor area, basically an open pod. Put in some partitions and that's how a "Wal-Mart jail" would look.

"We have not had room at the inn for a couple years now," Arriss said.

Mothers like Ashley Gifford understand the need, but having a big store as a neighbor is one thing, a jail is another.

"When we moved here, that's not what we would've anticipated," Gifford said.

Authorities were quick to give assurances that no violent offenders would be housed there, only those on work release.

"(Ones who) haven't been paying child support, have written bad checks," said county commissioner Pat South.

Warren County wants to expand its current jail and has the land to do it, but it would take 18 months and tens of millions of dollars.

The Wal-Mart would be a roomy stop-gap solution, London reported.