After much anticipation, the new Jones County Law Enforcement Center said Thursday it is on the brink of opening its doors for the first time.

"It's going to be great," Jones Co. Sheriff Larry Moore said. "We got new equipment and plenty of office space."

For the first time, the Sheriff's Department, jail, radio and 9-1-1 dispatch will be consolidated under one roof.

The new jail can hold 65 more inmates than the current jail holds

"This will allow us to keep all of our inmates here, plus will allow us to house prisoners for other counties and so we'll be able to make a little money," Moore said.

Sheriff Moore also said the county has been paying $35 per inmate, per day, to house their overflow inmates in other counties.

The new jail also means better living conditions for inmates.

"They're out cleaning and moving furniture and so they're into it," Moore said. "They're ready to get into the new facility.

The new facility also includes a 50 person classroom that will keep costs down since officers will no longer have to travel elsewhere for training.

"We've already had lots of meetings here and we're really excited," Moore said. "Just getting a lot of use out of it."

Inmates will not be able to move in to the new jail until Moore gets the green light from health and fire inspectors.

"Once we get that done, then hopefully we'll start moving the first of next week," Moore said.

A vacant $35 million prison sits next door to the new Jones County center.

It was built as part of an agreement between Jones County and the state to hold a specific population of prisoners who were eventually sent elsewhere.

The facility has been vacant for about two years.

KTXS contacted the State Department of Criminal Justice in May. They said their budget did not allow them to continue to fund the agreement.