History

Brunswick County's first jail was established in the early 1800s. It was a small, one-room building located in the county seat of Brunswick Town. The jail was used to house prisoners awaiting trial or who had been sentenced to short terms of imprisonment. In 1860, a new jail was built in Southport, the county's largest town. This jail was a two-story brick building with eight cells. The jail was used until the early 1900s when it was replaced by a new jail in Leland.

CLICK HERE to Search for Incarcerated Friends or Family Members

The Leland Jail

The Leland Jail was built in 1915 and was used for over 70 years. The jail was a two-story brick building with 16 cells. The jail was also used to house female prisoners. In the early 1990s, the Leland Jail was closed due to overcrowding. The jail was replaced by a new jail in Bolivia.

The Bolivia Jail

The Bolivia Jail was built in 1994 and is the current jail used by Brunswick County. The jail is a three-story brick building with 128 beds. The jail is also used to house female prisoners. The jail has a variety of programs and services for inmates, including educational programs, substance abuse treatment programs, and counseling services.

Recent Developments

In recent years, Brunswick County has seen a decrease in crime rates. This has led to a decrease in the number of inmates housed in the Bolivia Jail. In 2020, the jail's average daily population was 80 inmates. The jail has the capacity to house up to 128 inmates.

The Brunswick County Jail is a safe and secure facility that provides a variety of programs and services for inmates. The jail is committed to providing a humane and rehabilitative environment for inmates.

Challenges Facing the Brunswick County Jail

Despite the recent decrease in crime rates, the Brunswick County Jail continues to face a number of challenges. These challenges include:

• Overcrowding: The jail's average daily population is often close to its capacity of 128 inmates. This overcrowding can lead to a number of problems, including:
  • Increased risk of violence and other security concerns
  • Reduced access to programs and services for inmates
  • Increased stress for jail staff
• Mental health and substance abuse: A significant number of inmates in the Brunswick County Jail suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues. These issues can make it difficult for inmates to successfully reintegrate into the community after their release.
• Lack of funding: The Brunswick County Jail is facing a number of budget challenges. These challenges make it difficult to provide adequate programs and services for inmates.

Efforts to Address Challenges

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office is working to address the challenges facing the jail. These efforts include:

• Expanding jail capacity: The Sheriff's Office is working to expand the capacity of the jail by adding new beds.
• Providing more programs and services: The Sheriff's Office is working to provide more programs and services for inmates, including:
  • Mental health and substance abuse treatment programs
  • Educational programs
  • Job training programs
• Seeking additional funding: The Sheriff's Office is seeking additional funding from the county and state governments to support jail operations and programs.

The Future of the Brunswick County Jail

The future of the Brunswick County Jail is uncertain. The jail is facing a number of challenges, including overcrowding, mental health and substance abuse issues, and lack of funding. However, the Sheriff's Office is working to address these challenges and improve the jail.

One possible future for the jail is that it will be expanded to increase its capacity. Another possibility is that the jail will be replaced by a new facility. The Sheriff's Office is also exploring the possibility of partnering with other agencies to provide more programs and services for inmates.

No matter what the future holds, the Brunswick County Jail will continue to play an important role in the criminal justice system of Brunswick County. The jail is committed to providing a safe and secure facility for inmates and to providing programs and services that help inmates successfully reintegrate into the community after their release.