WAYNESBORO, Tenn. -- The development of Wayne County's new criminal justice center is steadily moving forward.

Wayne County Executive Jason Rich said the county recently finalized the purchase of 28 acres of land for the new facility. Rich said the property, which cost $144,000, is off U.S. 64 on Andrew Jackson Boulevard.

"That was the first step in making this become a reality," Rich said.

The county commission, earlier this year, approved borrowing $5.5 million for the planned $9 million project. Rich said the county already had $3.5 million set aside for renovating and additions to the county's existing jail.

Once a feasibility study on a criminal justice center compared additions and renovations to the jail, the commission voted to move forward with the justice center.

The next step, in the development of the justice center is the design phase.

Rich said the Nashville-based architectural firm Barge-Waggoner is working on designs for the proposed facility.

Also, Rich has looked at a similar center in Dunlap, Tenn., and he and Sheriff Ric Wilson traveled to Macon County, Tenn., on Thursday to visit another justice center.

"We're not talking about something very elaborate; we need something simple to meet our present needs and future needs,'' Rich said.

Wilson said the 28 acres is plenty of room to house the planned 130-bed facility, which also would house two jury courtrooms and a nonjury courtroom, as well as judges chambers.

Rich said the criminal justice center would handle the county's overcrowding problems, not only at the jail but at the courthouse.

Wilson said there are 43 inmates in the county facility, which is certified to house 41.

"We've got 32 housed at other facilities throughout the state,'' the sheriff said. "By Tennessee law, we cannot refuse to take a prisoner, and by state certification, we can only have 41, so we have to keep the population under that total. That means we're looking to move a few out to other counties right now.''

The sheriff said the county has almost as many prisoners in other facilities as in the county jail.

"We're paying $1,190 per day to keep these inmates in other facilities, and that cost continues to rise with the more we have to farm them out,'' he said.

He said most of the inmates are going to Ripley, Tenn., which is on the Arkansas state line -- "which is over a three-hour trip.''

Wilson said the money being spent on housing prisoners out of the county and on travel would make payments on the new facility.

"Right now, first-time driving while under the influence offenders are sentenced to two days in jail,'' the sheriff sad. "We've got 60 waiting to come in and serve their time. We don't have a place for them.''

Rich said he hopes the plans are completed and approved within six months.

"I'd like to be able to start construction by early 2008 and then open the facility in late summer 2009," he said. "There's still a lot of work ahead, but it's a realistic goal.''

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.