SMYRNA, GA — The City of Smyrna plans to shut down its municipal jail later this year.
The Smyrna City Council unanimously voted to close the city’s 64-bed jail, which is attached to the police department on Atlanta Road. The jail is expected to officially close on June 2.
City Manager Michael Jones told the council that after a careful review, he recommended repurposing the facility.
“After we’ve analyzed this, the city decided to close its jail and work toward a plan to repurpose the facility,” Jones said.
Jones said the move is similar to operations already implemented by other Cobb County cities and noted that Smyrna is the last municipal jail in the county to turn over inmate actions to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is very similar to the operations that other Cobb County cities have already implemented, in fact the city of Smyrna is the last municipal jail to turn over inmate actions to the care of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office,” Jones said.
Under an intergovernmental agreement, current and future inmates will be housed at the Cobb County Detention Center.
“The current Smyrna jail inmates and future inmates will be housed at the Cobb County Detention Center pursuant to the terms of an intergovernmental agreement with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department and the Cobb County Board of Commissioners,” Jones said.
City officials say 10 of the 17 current jail employees will be retained and transferred to other positions within the city. Others will lose their jobs.
WSB Radio’s Michelle Wright contributed to this story.