By Jon Johnson
CLIFTON – Greenlee County is advancing its evaluation of the future of its aging jail facility, with county leaders emphasizing a collaborative, data-driven approach rather than rushing into decisions like closure or major construction.
The discussion follows a February 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting (as reported in The Gila Herald on Feb 5, 2026), where the board unanimously approved reforming a jail committee to assess options for the current jail, which was built in 1979 for approximately $877,000 with an original design of 30 beds under outdated punitive standards. At that time, Greenlee County Manager Derek Rapier presented data showing the average daily inmate population had tripled from about 5.5 in 2023 to roughly 16 (peaking at 19), with operating costs budgeted around $2.27 million for fiscal year 2026. Options floated included a new facility estimated at over $30 million (potentially funded through bonds or a jail district sales tax), a $15 million renovation, outsourcing to other counties, or hybrid models. Rapier stressed that finances are key but not the sole factor, and he recommended reviving a prior jail committee — including Greenlee County Sheriff Eric Ellison — to gather better data, explore grants, and avoid premature conclusions.
In a recent follow-up interview, Sheriff Ellison and County Manager Rapier provided updates on the evolving situation and the committee’s role.
The current jail, a 35-bed facility (originally designed for 30 but with past additions, such as double bunks, that increased capacity), is not in imminent danger of condemnation.
“The jail is nowhere close to being condemned,” Ellison said. “The jail is not in as bad a shape as it may have been made out to be. It’s perfectly fine to keep people safe and healthy, and there is nothing wrong with the jail, per se. It’s just aging; the technology isn’t as efficient as what new technology is. You have to have more manpower to man the jail than maybe a new jail would take. Security cameras, medical staff, all those kinds of things that go into a modern jail is what we’re looking at.”
Rapier agreed, noting proactive planning is essential.
“I think it would be foolish of us not to look ahead when we know we’ve got a facility that is as old as it is,” he said. “That doesn’t mean it’s falling apart or that people are going to start escaping at will or that they’re in danger, but I think we would be foolish not to start asking the questions long before we do have a crisis of some type on our hands.”
Inmate numbers have risen significantly since Ellison took office, and there is a need for updated facilities.
“As I took office, we had four inmates in the jail, and now we’re our average according to Tyler’s (Jail Commander Tyler Attaway) stats is about 21 is what is showing. We peaked at 24, and it’s just going up,” Ellison said.
Rapier confirmed a steady upward trend in average daily counts, though discrepancies exist between reporting methods (e.g., morning counts vs. 24-hour interactions). He noted that full staffing — with five new deputies being hired — will likely drive further increases in arrests and data, though long-term trends depend on societal factors and deterrence effects.
The committee, now being formed, will include stakeholders such as representatives from the sheriff’s office (including Jail Commander Tyler Attaway or a designee), the board, courts, probation, the county attorney, and potentially outside law enforcement.
Rapier highlighted the improved collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office and his.
“One of the things that I’ve been kind of thrilled about is I’ve got a partner that is willing to work with us and flesh out those questions that we haven’t had answers to,” Rapier said.
He added that every option remains open, driven by data — including rehabilitation, reentry, and location — rather than assumptions of closure.
Ellison stressed the value of this joint effort.
“For me, I think that’s a win for everybody,” he said. “And the citizens of Greenlee County is coming together working out a problem and honestly, working it out instead of just jumping to conclusions.”
Cost estimates, such as the $30 million figure for a new build, were described as preliminary and speculative, based on early architect input.
“The $30 million figure there is a… There is an architect firm that designs a lot of jails… They’re general; they’re estimated. And I think I did make it clear that that part of the analysis is speculative at this point,” Rapier said.
The county plans to refine estimates through vendors at events like the Western States Sheriffs’ Association trade show in early March; however, no large-scale project is imminent.
“We’re not interested in doing a large deal like that,” Sheriff Ellison said. “We’re going to do what’s sufficient for our needs and what is good for the county and the citizens of Greenlee County.”
The process will be deliberate and multi-year, with Rapier noting the committee formation is forthcoming.
“Within the next month, we’ll have a committee identified and probably have our initial meeting,” Rapier said. “And in terms of solving the problem, I would say this is a years-long process… We don’t want to get it rushed; we want there to come out of this process unity.”
Interim repairs or grants may address specific needs, but the focus is on thoughtful long-term planning. Any final proposal requiring citizen input — such as a jail district — would be presented confidently with supporting data.
The leaders expressed appreciation for community engagement and the opportunity to address the issue collaboratively.
