The May 2017 grand jury, in session this week, made several recommendations about the Lauderdale County Courthouse, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department and jail.

The grand jury, as it has for more than 20 years, advocated for a new courthouse or renovation to the current building. Supervisors are studying that issue and exploring options and associated costs.

The grand jury, also, said detectives needed more space for investigations and recommended the county invest in a new jail entirely. 

The report noted broken windows, inaccessible plumbing, leaks and blind spots that needed to be addressed in the jail. They also said the laundry hanging on the rails in the jail needed to be removed.

Generally, the jury recommended that the county get a YMCA and convert to digital storage by investing in Smart Boards and hard drives.