Renovations to the Booking area of the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center should improve safety for deputies and inmates, said Sheriff Robert Arnold.

The maintenance staff and inmates renovated Booking during the past two months. This is the first time Booking was renovated since the jail opened in 1998. The project was funded in the detention budget this year.

"We hope these renovations will improve the safety and security of the Booking area," said Sheriff Arnold. "We booked in 16,045 inmates in 2014 so it's critical to provide a safer environment."

Citizens are invited to tour the Booking area during open house from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7 inside the Adult Detention Center located at 940 New Salem Highway in Murfreesboro.

Detention Maj. Tommy Thompson said one of the new safety features is a metal detector that was surplus and obtained for free from the Transportation Security Administration. The Center paid for the set up and training. The metal detector gives the staff another tool to keep weapons and other contraband out of the Detention Center.

Booking is the busiest part of the jail, Maj. Thompson said. Everyone who is booked in or released is processed through booking.

"We expect these renovations to increase efficiency and safety in processing prisoners as well as the safety of our officers," Maj. Thompson said.

Booking Lt. Thomas McBroom said the Booking staff:

• Obtains information about the inmate and enters the information into the computer.
• Checks for other warrants filed against the inmate in Rutherford County and throughout the nation.
• Serves warrants on the inmates.
• Take fingerprints and a photograph of the inmate.
• Log the inmate's personal property until released.

Inmates who will be booked into the jail must take a shower, be issued jail clothing and undergo a physical by a nurse. Then, inmates will be held in a cell until a Detention supervisor assigns the inmate a cell.

Booking also houses inmates arrested on DUI who must be detained for several hours and suspects charged with domestic violence who have a mandatory 12-hour hold before release. Inmates who are suicidal are also kept in booking where they are regularly monitored.

Detention Center inmates who are combative or disruptive may be placed in one of three isolation cells, one of which is equipped with a rubber coating to prevent the inmate from harm.

Inmates who are trusties and those going to court are processed through booking.

The newly renovated booking area includes work stations for deputies and a station to start the processing and to release inmates.

Telephones were moved from the Booking area to cells to keep the area clear and to reduce potential fights.

"We moved the fingerprint station from a closed off room to Booking so we can keep an eye on the officer while the inmate is fingerprinted," Lt. McBroom said. "It's going to be a safer work place due to the newer camera system. We take pride in the new Booking room and work area."