Grand Jury Finds Jail A “Disgrace”

Grand Jury Finds Jail A “Disgrace”

In the report of the Sullivan County Grand Jury for the January term of the circuit court, submitted at the conclusion of its work of passing on indictments and examining county property and fiscal affairs, the antiquated county jail was again described as “a disgrace,” and it was urged that sanitary facilities in the courthouse be improved, with recommendation that indecent writing on the walls of the outside basement toilets be covered with a coat of paint.

The jail was described as unsafe for the persons there and unsafe for society, in that the Prisoners can easily rejoin the outside world. It was further stated that the thirteen members of the grand jury would meet with the April county court to offer a resolution “to have an architect prepare plans for a new jail adjoining and attached to the rear of the present courthouse, on property already sufficient and belonging to Sullivan County. We further propose to offer a resolution that after these plans are drawn and prices estimated, that a referendum be submitted to the people of Sullivan County to permit bonds to be sold to build this new jail. We further urge that the circuit judge and sheriff meet with us at this county court meeting.”