Building and maintaining jails is one of those unpleasant but necessary tasks governments must perform, and it seems the Talladega County Commission is taking the right approach to a metro jail expansion that can result in the largest bond issue in the history of the county.

The commissioners held a public hearing on Monday and listened to mental health and medical personnel give their ideas on what the new jail should offer and how it should be organized.

There are those who subscribe to the “lock ’em up and throw away the key” approach who don’t believe in offering anything more than a hard bed and subsistence rations. The law, however, and humanity require more than that, and it is proper to consider those needs at this stage rather than trying to correct a problem in the future.

Many in jail are suffering from mental problems and can be a threat to others and themselves. Medical care becomes the responsibility of the government entity when an inmate enters jail and should and must be offered. In recent years, health care for inmates in Talladega County has exceeded $1 million.

Overcrowding could be part of the problem on both fronts. A new jail that relieves that problem and will not be outgrown in a few years is a must.

There is much more work to be done. Grants must be applied for and, it is hoped, approved. Bonds must be issued.

No one favors building a luxury jail. But this community does need one that meets its needs. This is necessary work.