news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said Monday that he intends to run for re-election in 2010 with the hope of overseeing a smooth transition to the new downtown jail.

“I plan on running and seeing the jail finished if the citizens will give me that honor,” Barnes said.

“It’s something that's going to be very important to the community, and I owe it to the men and women who have done so much for the sheriff’s office and the citizens to see this through.”

The new jail, tentatively scheduled to open in November 2011, will hold 1,032 inmates and is expected to cost $114.6 million. It will be adjacent to the current jail on West Sycamore Street.

Once the eight-story structure is complete, a massive one-year renovation of the old jail will be conducted to enable inmates to be housed there again as well.

The new jail should be in line with inmate population growth through 2025, according to inmate growth estimates.

Barnes has served as Guilford County Sheriff since 1994 and has more than 30 years in law enforcement.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com