Until 1970, Franklin County used a jail constructed in 1887 to house 135 inmates. The renovated jail, completed in 1971, was a modern house of detention by 1970s standards; it is a 10-story facility located in downtown Columbus. This facility, commonly referred to as the main jail, had a 675-bed capacity with the completion of the fifth and sixth floors in 1979. The main jail operated under capacity until 1979, when the city of Columbus closed its jail operation and merged with the county. The county then had the responsibility of housing the city misdemeanants as well as the previously housed county felons. The county decided in 1984 to tear down the men's workhouse and replace it with a new three-wing facility, commonly referred to as the Jackson Pike facility, designed as a medium/minimum- security facility with dormitory housing for its intended sentenced misdemeanant population. Today (1997), the Franklin County Sheriff's Office operates two full-service correctional facilities, which have a daily population average of over 1,500 inmates. The main jail has been closed since February 1996 for renovations. The Jackson Pike facility is a 1,209-bed medium/minimum security facility. Until the renovation of the main jail is complete, all inmates will be housed in the Jackson Pike facility. The renovation of the main jail will ensure its effective functioning for many years to come and improve life- safety and security systems as well as its operational efficiency. 2 notes