In the aftermath of Rafael McCloud’s escape, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office underwent an intensive internal administrative investigation into jail policies and procedures that resulted in the firing of one corrections officer and changes and improvements designed to make the jail safer for the officers and hopefully eliminate the possibility of another dangerous escape.

We applaud Sheriff Martin Pace and his staff for taking the initiative to take a close look at what happened and why and implement the necessary changes instead of trying to make excuses and sweep the problems under the rug.

But while we’re glad to see the changes being made, the simple fact remains the changes, no matter how extensive and comprehensive, will not take the place of a new jail. And despite Board of Supervisors President Richard George’s prediction a new jail is three to five years away, the time for a new jail is now.

The present jail is 109 years old. It was last remodeled in 1977. Currently, two cellblocks are closed for security reasons. Why? Because the locking mechanism of individual cells is not working.

The company that made the locks and the company that made the lock parts are out of business, and the man who made repairs has died. Other companies are working to make the necessary parts for the locking mechanism.

About 26 Warren County inmates who would have occupied those closed cellblocks are now being held at the Madison County Jail at a cost of $45 per person per day, or a total of $1,170 a day.

And even with the changes the sheriff has initiated, the potential of another serious problem remains a possibility because of the jail’s age.

Public safety is a responsibility of local government, and a new jail is part of that responsibility, and countless grand juries have pointed out the need for a new jail.

It’s time the Warren County Board of Supervisors took a look — a serious look — at building a new jail. That means seeking available low-interest loans, examining bond issues, grants and other funding to build a new jail, and doing it immediately. We can’t wait for another, more serious problem at the jail.

In his discussion of Rafael McCloud’s escape, Pace said, “I take responsibility for my staff, and this (the escape) should have never happened.”

That responsibility should be shared by the board of supervisors, who have continuously refused to build a new jail with modern equipment that could have possibly prevented McCloud’s escape.