Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi says he is no-longer sending inmates to be held at the lockup at the downtown courthouse in Springfield.
A group of attorneys is suing the state over dangerous mold conditions at the Roderick Ireland Courthouse, which hosts the superior and district courts as well as a number of county departments.
Cocchi says serious conversations are taking place at the state level about potentially closing the facility, which is nearly fifty years old.
The state originally said that it was planning a 100 million dollar rehab of the entire complex. It had indicated that there was no suitable location to build a new Hall of Justice. But, city officials objected. And, the talks are back on.
There has been no indication as to when the decision will be made. But the Sheriff says it could come at any time.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, WHYN News)