Another grand jury panel has recommended that the Board of Supervisors address poor conditions at the Warren County Jail, this time adding that studies should be funded to compare the costs of building a new jail with refurbishing the old — if it can be done.

“The conditions of the jail were deemed…detrimental if the goal is to rehabilitate the jail’s inhabitants,” the report stated. “This grand jury feels strongly that this issue is of vital importance to our community as it relates to the working conditions of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department as well as the safety and morale of the jailers and prisoners, and we feel the board should investigate possible federal funding or additional means to assist with this project.”

Jurors went on to ask supervisors to fund a study to determine if the existing jail can be brought up to modern standards, and another to see which solution — build a new one or fix the old — is more cost-effective.

For five years or more, the jurors who review evidence in criminal trials, issue indictments and tour the 106-year-old jail in the course of their service have said that conditions there must be addressed for the safety of the inmates and those who work there, usually placing the item at the top of their recommendations.

The Warren County Jail was built in 1906 and renovated in the 1970s. It can house up to 128 inmates and is usually at capacity with pre-trial detainees. City prisoners often are jailed at the Issaquena County Correctional Facility, increasing costs to cover housing and transportation.

In 2009, a consultant was hired by the Board of Supervisors to study the county’s jail needs and recommend a potential site for a new jail. Guidelines said 20 to 50 acres will be needed to build a jail capable of housing at least 350 inmates.

One site proposed to supervisors is the Ceres Research and Industrial Interplex near Flowers, off exit 14 of Interstate 20, but others in the city have called for refurbishing the jail’s third floor, currently used for storage, to incorporate jail cells.

The area currently cannot be used for incarcerating inmates for reasons including lack of egress and accessibility required by law, necessary heating and cooling systems and other Department of Justice inmate housing standards, and might not be structurally capable of being remodeled into inmate housing.

A five-member panel has been formed to review site offers, and supervisors have estimated possible costs of a new facility at $20 million to $30 million.

The panel of 18 grand jurors was sworn in Monday by presiding Judge M. James Chaney.

They reviewed evidence in 120 cases against 144 individuals, completing their duties Friday morning. They returned indictments in 107 of the cases, along with 14 no bills, meaning not enough evidence to take the case to trial. Two cases were reduced to misdemeanors, and two were continued to the next grand jury, which will be convened in January.

Indictments are made public after defendants are arraigned and formally advised of the charges against them in circuit court and given a trial date. At least 67 defendants were arraigned Friday, with other arraignments postponed until defendants could meet with attorneys.

Some defendants who did not appear as scheduled for arraignment had warrants issued for their arrest.

In addition to touring the jail, the grand jury toured the Warren County Children’s Shelter and attended a session at Youth Court. They met with Sheriff Martin Pace, county prosecutor Ricky Johnson and Youth Court Judge Johnny Price.

Other recommendations in their report were that supervisors support “substantial funding” of the juvenile justice system in the county as a long-term solution to fighting crime. They commended “the hard work and dedication of Judge Price and his staff.”

They also advocated continued funding of the children’s shelter, expressing concern about security and inadequate lighting.

The Warren County Grand Jury meets four times a year — May, July, January and October.