Jail Labeled ‘Substandard’
The Sullivan County Grand Jury reported Monday that it found the county jail in a “substandard” condition during a routine visit last Thursday
Jurors said they returned to the jail the following day, saw the condition had not been corrected, and “confronted” Sheriff Bill Wright with the situation.
Wright blamed inadequate sanitation conditions on the fact that the jail doesn’t have a laundry, and prisoners have to furnish their own clothes, jurors said.
The jury said it found that cell blocks need extensive repairing, especially electrical wiring and plumbing, which has been torn from the walls. (A makeshift dagger, found recently in a prisoner’s cell, was made from a section of commode tubing).
Wright said he would try to correct the condition, and extensive clean-up program was underway when they returned Monday, jurors said.
Prisoners were in a better mood after the cells were cleaned, although there were several complaints about lack of hot water, the jury reported.
Recommendations by the Grand Jury included:
- cells should be cleaned at least three times a week;
- floors and walls should be scrubbed once a week;
- obscene photographs and literature should be banned from cells;
- each cellblock should receive one newspaper per day, and before another newspaper is issued, the old one should be removed.
- no tin cans or bottles should be allowed in the cells; and
- prisoners should be switched to different cellblocks occasionally.
The jurors said Wright agreed to comply with the recommendations as soon as possible.
Jurors pointed out that inmates appeared well fed and morale was as high “as could be expected.”
The jury found other county offices in order and had special praise for the cleanliness of the Kingsport and Bristol city jails.
This was the most extensive Grand Jury tour in county history; it lasted three days.
