For the first time in the past 22 years of sessions, the Warren County Grand Jury that met in May 2025 did not have to recommend the building of a new jail. Construction of a new jail is under way, and the Grand Jury offered compliments to the Warren County Board of Supervisors for allowing Sheriff Martin Pace to make recommendations during the construction of the new facility and renovations to the old one.

The May Grand Jury did, however, make several recommendations. First, it recommended metal detectors be added to the public entry and exit entrances of the Warren County Courthouse. Recommendations were made for improvement to the Grand Jury room in the courthouse, specifically that the room provide enough comfortable seating to accommodate all jurors and that the room be cleared of clutter prior to a Grand Jury session. It also recommended additional visual reference material to aid jurors in defining charges, potential punishments and legal terminology.

The youth of Warren County were addressed in the Grand Jury’s recommendations. It proposed a dedicated resource officer for each public school, including elementary schools, and the creation of a mentorship program to allow students to become familiar with law enforcement officers and community resources that are available. The Grand Jury also recommended students in grades 7-12 be allowed to tour the jail and detention center and that the pilot program for Warren County Youth Court be continued.

The Grand Jury also recommended that, once the new jail is completed, the old jail be renovated to create an additional courtroom for each circuit court judge to have a dedicated space to hear cases; temporary holding cells for detainees are created; and office space and designated storage space are created.

The Grand Jury reviewed a total of 80 cases against 90 individuals. It returned 76 true bills (meaning the case has enough information for prosecution to advance), two no bills, and reduced one felony to a misdemeanor. A total of 109 counts were confirmed and one case was left to be reviewed by the next Grand Jury.