Onslow County receives jail certification

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - The long-awaited day has come for the new justice complex in Onslow County.

The county received its jail certification from the state Friday.

The review said the facility meets all of the requirements to open and operate.

County Manager Jeff Hudson said he's extremely pleased the construction phase is complete.

Now, he says he will work with Sheriff Ed Brown to hire detention officers.

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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - After nearly an eight month wait, the Onslow County Detention Center is finally ready to open.

The Onslow County Justice Complex was scheduled to open last July but it just got it's certificate of occupancy today. Problems with the smoke evacuation system are to blame for the delay.

Once engineers figured out the problem, they worked with contractors around the clock to get the building up to the necessary standards.

Having the new jail operational could mean money for the county. With all 118 beds at the old jail currently full, Onslow County has been housing inmates at the Sampson County Jail at the cost of $50 per inmate, per day. Now with 528 new beds, Onslow County can house all of its own inmates as well as inmates from other jurisdictions.

The justice complex is ready to house inmates, but first it needs a staff.

Sheriff, Ed Brown is ready to hire 60 new corrections officers to work the new complex, but he says applicants shouldn't expect working in Onslow County to be like jail shows on tv.

"Don't get the misconception that being a detention officer means that you come into a war zone. You don't come into a war zone, you come into a nice facility like this where if its raining you don't get wet, if its cold- you don't get cold and if its hot you don't get hot."

Sheriff Brown says he considers the department to be one big family and anyone joining the jail division would be treated as part of that family.

"In the sheriff's office, the way we do this. If you're hired on as a detention officer and an opening comes for a deputy position, we give our detention officers first priority if they qualify for the deputy position."

So what does it take to become a corrections officer?

Applicants must reside in Onslow County, be 21 years old with no criminal history and be ready to work. Sheriff brown says the department is ready for applications.

"The application process is ongoing, fired up this morning. we were on a freeze, but now the freeze is off and we are interested in good, qualified persons."

The new justice complex still must undergo a jail certification before it can house inmates. That certification is expected to happen within the next few weeks.

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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Building inspectors say the Onslow County Jail needs to pass one final test to finally open its doors.

After several missed opening dates last year, the new 57-million dollar justice complex is one step away from becoming a reality.

City officials say design issues with the smoke control system were holding things up.

After the facility passes this last inspection, it will receive its certificate of occupancy.

The city manager says the jail will generate revenue because it will be big enough to house inmates from surrounding counties.

Sheriff Ed Brown says he's looking to hire more than 60 detention officers for the new jail.

Those plans were originally drafted last year when the jail was supposed to open, but have been on hold for nearly a year.

The sheriff met with his staff Tuesday morning to end the hiring freeze.

Sheriff Brown says even though he's looking to hire fast, he "will not sacrifice quality in the search for quantity."