Hamilton County Commission approves name change of jail

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Commission agreed on Wednesday to change the name of the Hamilton County Workhouse, also known as the Silverdale Detention Center.

The commission voted unanimously to change the name to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center.

Sheriff Austin Garrett noted that the name “Silverdale” should only be associated with the church and school in that area.

He also told commissioners this is the appropriate time to change the name as they near completion of the jail renovation.

“I think it reconfirms the commitment that the change we made when we took possession of this facility back and took the ownership back. And it’s part of the accountability process,” Sheriff Garrett said. “To rebrand something, you have to change the name. And that previous name needs to simply be associated with a church and a school… Silverdale.”

Hamilton County originally built the detention center to house short-term prisoners but has recently converted it into the primary jail.