“Deplorable” Jail Unsanitary – Usually Overcrowded

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. — The Sullivan County Jail here is unsanitary and usually overcrowded

Though officials say the 22 – year – old facility is ‘‘cleaner than it’s been in ten years,”’ they admit that faulty plumbing and inadequate supervision contribute to conditions that can only be labeled as deplorable.

And an inspection of recent jail records revealed that population of adult male inmates has regularly exceeded the structure’s capacity.

Bristol Newspapers obtained Friday a list of grievances from inmates at the jail. Most of the prisoners’ complaints are with regard to sanitation.

The prisoners allege, and jail officials confirm, that many of the cells have no hot water; that toilets and shower stalls are not regularly inspected for cleanliness; that toilets are subject to periodic overflow; that only trusties are served a noon meal; and that some prisoners are occasionally forced to sleep on tables and floors during periods of overpopulation.

Though Sullivan County’s jail has moved up 11 places on the Department of Corrections’ rating list since Sheriff Mike Gardner took office last fall from 77th to 66th out of 102 Tennessee county jails and workhouses, the department’s report from a January 1977 inspection cited eight areas of partial compliance or noncompliance.

The report noted the poor plumbing in the jail, the lack of proper sanitation within the cells, and the fact that some inmates were without sheets, blankets. or personal hygiene items such as shampoo and toothbrushes and toothpaste.

The report also recommended that the jail interior be repainted and that the jailers be required to take courses in jail security and operations. Since the report, all but three or four of the cell areas have been painted, and all six jailers have completed the 40 – hour course recommended in the report, according to Keith Westmoreland, Gardner’s administrative assistant.

Inspector Joe Butler Jr. noted that “most cells are not cleaned as well or as often as they should be.” Butler also observed that the flushing of some toilets resulted in the overflowing of adjacent fixtures. And, said Butler, hot water is a necessity for cleanliness, and should be provided “in each cell.”

Westmoreland blames the poor sanitation on the inmates and the lack of adequate supervision. “All we can do is give them a broom and a mop and tell them to clean their cell.” This “cleaning” is rarely, if ever, supervised by jailers or inspected afterwards. “We just don’t have enough manpower.” said Westmoreland.

The sheriff’s assistant indicated that one of the department’s major concerns right now is the size of the jail staff. Gardner’s budget proposal, now pending before the County Court, requests funds for two more jailers.

“That would enable us to have at least two men on duty at all times.” said Westmoreland, who explained that a single jailer has virtually no opportunity to supervise the cleaning of cells. “When we get the additional jailers,” he asserted, “it (supervision of sanitary conditions) will be done.”

Some of the prisoners contend that sanitation in the jail could be improved right now,“if they (the jail authorities) really cared at all.”

One inmate pointed out that cleaning supplies are provided for less than ten minutes at a time. “Even if all the prisoners knew how to really clean the place right, they couldn’t do it in the time they give us.” he said.

One trusty related that 19 inmates recently spent a week in a cell designed for 12 men. The seven “extras” slept on the floor and table.

Chief Jailer Capt. Allen McNew confirmed the trusty’s story, saying that spiraling jail population has often forced jailers to place more than the maximum number of prisoners in some cells.

Saturday, jailers turned away a number of weekend prisoners because of overcrowding. “We put them to work around the jail for a couple of hours,” said one jailer, “but we didn’t have enough room to keep them overnight, so we sent them home.” He said similar situations have developed over many of the past weekends.

State officials report that conditions at the county jail are the responsibility of the county government. “All we can do is to make recommendations,” said a Department of Corrections spokesman. “The job of running the jail is the sole responsibility of the county sheriff, the county judge and the county court.”

Westmoreland feels the jail “is a major concern” of Gardner’s administration. “With what we’ve got to work with, Mike’s doing a better job than most people could.” Westmoreland indicated the department’s budget request will ask for $1,000 for personal hygiene supplies for indigent prisoners.

This, along with an increase in the jail staff, will ‘‘go a long way toward making a better atmosphere” in the jail, said Westmoreland.

County Judge Lon V. Boyd acknowledged yesterday that “there has been some discussion” regarding the construction of a new facility, but admitted that he was not personally aware of the condition of the jail.

“I have not been down to that jail for a long time.” said Boyd. “But if anything is brought to my attention, or if I know of anything personally, it’s my job to help to see that it’s corrected — if it is deficient in anything.”

Boyd observed that ‘‘anything of this nature” would have to be approved by the Sullivan County Quarterly Court: “The county court would have to appropriate money — you see. it all comes back to the money.”

Boyd said the first decision that should be made is whether the existing structure should be updated, or a new structure built. “Is it cheaper to remodel or to build?” asked Boyd “That’s a close question sometimes. ”

The court’s Safety Committee, charged with overseeing and inspecting the jail, plans to tour the facility this week, according to committee chairman Lake Barnes.

Barnes admitted that the committee has not inspected the jail “for a few months,” but said he believed “it’s not much different than it was a year ago.”

Barnes said he was aware that the Department of Corrections has inspected the jail recently, but he was not familiar with the report’s findings. “We know we’ve got problems up there,” he said, “but you put them (prisoners) in there and they tear it up.”

Barnes said the committee will “check it out and see if it’s any different than it’s been.”

But Safety Committee Vice Chairman Bill Poe said Saturday that he was not aware of any report. “Our committee should definitely have been told,” he said, adding, “I’d sure like to know about it.”

While the county officials deliberate over financial priorities at the jail, at least one jailer feels the inmates are meanwhile being neglected.

Instead of “holding all their money for a new jail,” the “county powers” should “put their money into making this one decent,” said the jailer.