Editors note: Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates on Friday released a statement on the process of jail decertification and how counties are mandated to build them by federal judges. The statement is published below in its entirety:

"It appears clarification regarding Monroe County's issues with the jail is needed at this time. Let me explain, I am only able to give you and the county commissioners information that is supplied to me. From the day I took office, I was told the Monroe County Jail is in grave danger of becoming decertified by the State of Tennessee. 

"Let me explain, decertification occurs after an inspection of the jail is made by the State of Tennessee and finds it non-complainant to state rules and regulations. Previous administrations have dealt with the state under a Plan of Action (POA). We are also working with them under that POA and a County Corrections Partnership Initiative (CCP) to hold off decertification of the jail. Due to impending lawsuits and overcrowding, we could become decertified. Then a federal Judge will step in and appoint a federal monitor to oversee the jail and Sheriff's Department. Each month my office is required to send copies of minutes from County Commission meetings, minutes of each Justice Committee meeting, newspaper articles, as well as jail reports showing inmate population on a daily basis from the Sheriff's Department and a letter of progress of where we, Monroe County is now.

"That process and those documents are only a temporary stop gap. If the state determines we are not trying to make progress, they will decertify the jail and the federal judge will step in. At that time, the building of the jail will be completely out of Monroe County Government's hands. We are working diligently to keep that from happening.

"I have in every way provided that information as given to me through meetings and written documents. I will give more information to the public after our next meeting with the State of Tennessee."