NEWPORT-Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange said Friday that two federal lawsuits filed on behalf of two former inmates in the county jail have been dismissed.

Strange told The Newport Plain Talk that Jeffrey Betters and Marcie Smith, both formerly incarcerated in the jail, accepted $500 each to settle their lawsuits.

"We're well pleased with that" outcome, Strange said.

"It (the outcome) is according to the work we've done," Strange said, citing the sheriff's department's efforts to recertify the jail.

Strange said on Thursday he received the official recertification certificate issued by the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

He said the jail has addressed overcrowding problems, painted the entire interior of the jail, "recleaned" the jail, added more showers, and dealt with "ventilation problems" and "plumbing issues."

"Inspectors (with the TDOC) told us we did a good job," said Strange, who said the department's employees who did the work deserve the credit for the compliment.

Strange said that having the lawsuits settled for only $1,000 for the plaintiffs obviously saved Cocke County money if more had been awarded. He also said recertification of the jail will lower insurance premiums for the county.

Strange said Betters was transferred to prison after his incarceration at the Cocke County jail, and that he has been released.

Smith has also been released from the Cock County jail, he added.