Every Warren County grand jury report for at least the last 15 years has reached the same conclusion on the state of the county jail — a new one is needed.

For nearly as long, Warren County supervisors have mulled plans for a new jail and have had studies completed on the costs, location and logistics. As the grand jury begins its October term Monday, we are confident its report also will include the need for a new jail.

That need came into crystal-clear focus Oct. 15 when an inmate at the jail ignited paper or a bed sheet resulting in a partial evacuation of the jail and the transferring of 18 inmates to a jail in Rankin County. The transfer costs and extra costs to house inmates in neighboring jails — $30 per inmate per day — in this case, equals $540 per day. It adds up quickly.

Housing inmates at neighboring jails is commonplace due to lack of space in the jail that is more than 100 years old. The Warren County Jail can house 141 inmates. Others are sent usually to Issaquena County, again at county expense, because of the lack of space. The jail is not getting any bigger, and it becomes more and more obsolete each year that passes. Only so many bandages can be applied before concrete action must be taken.

An undertaking such as building a new jail, though, will require a steadfast commitment by supervisors and taxpayers alike. Supervisors are always reticent to pitch bond issues or even talk of raising taxes. For much of that, we wholeheartedly agree. Raising taxes or passing bond issues is not palatable in a down economy.

But remember, the push for a new jail began years ago, when the economy was much rosier, and still no movement has been made. It is apparent that no time will be the right time, at least in the taxpayers’ eyes. Making unpopular decisions, though, is part of the job of being a supervisor. The taxpayers’ job is to jump aboard for the betterment of the community.

Crime is showing no signs of coming to a screeching halt. Bad people will continue to do bad things. When they are caught, they need to be taken out of society to right the wrongs committed. A new jail is no longer a great idea or is to be looked at as a footnote on another grand jury report.

Every three months, the grand jury meets. Every three months, they return a report highlighting the need for a new jail. Every three months, their observations are ignored. Over 15 years of grand jury reports, that’s at least 1,000 Warren County taxpayers and registered voters whose suggestions have been ignored.

It is no longer a matter of if Warren County needs a new jail. It’s a matter of when should the Warren County Board of Supervisors bite the bullet. That answer is now.

Find a way. Get it done.