Mayor O’Connell’s 2027 Capital Spending Plan includes $35 million for a new $450 million jail to replace overcrowded and aging jail facilities. The Nashville People’s Budget Coalition helped convene a coalition of organizations to oppose the new jail project.

We drafted a public letter (below) to the Mayor’s Office and Metro Council signed by 25 organizations. Our message: Remove the $35 million allocation for a $450 million new jail from the proposed Capital Spending Plan until you, the Mayor’s Office, do your due diligence by collaborating with stakeholders and community members to address overcrowding—and poor conditions—at their root by:

1. reducing pretrial detention
2. reducing the cost of bail
3. ending the criminalization of poverty and homelessness

After deferring the Capital Spending Plan resolution on the basis of questions about the jail allocation on October 20, 2026, Metro Council passed the spending plan on November 5, 2026, approving an allocation of $35 million in borrowed money to begin design and early construction on the new jail. A few council members voted “No” in solidarity with our push.

While the initial allocation for a new jail has been approved, the fight is far from over as council will have to approve any subsequent allocations to keep the project moving forward. We can still stop a new jail from being built.

Stay tuned in 2027 for ways to join the fight for housing and genuine community safety instead of a new jail!

PUBLIC LETTER