Sullivan Jail Overcrowding a Problem

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  • January 11, 1983
  • Kingsport Times-News
  • Don Jacobs

Sullivan Jail Overcrowding a Problem

Overcrowding at the Sullivan County Jail last weekend forced officials to shuffle inmates to city jails in Kingsport and Bristol.

The game of musical inmates began when the Sullivan County Jail reached its capacity of 126 persons and more continued to arrive to serve weekend sentences for driving while intoxicated. ;

During the weekend, sheriff’s deputies placed four women in the Kingsport City Jail and two others transferred to Bristol in an effort to make room for the 148 inmates who jammed into the jail.

In the past, overcrowding has forced jailers to use other facilities, but jailers fear the weekend’s accommodations may be the norm for the future. Keith Westmoreland, assistant administrator for the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, said there is no light at the end of his administrative tunnel.

“I don’t see any change. I think every week, we’re going to be fuller and fuller,” Westmoreland said.

“The new DWI law has an awful lot to do with it,” he added.

Westmoreland said in the past most DWI offenders were given probation or suspended sentences, so they never saw the inside of the jail. Reflecting that practice, Westmoreland said the average jail population on weekends was about 116 before the new DWI law.

But now, he said the average is about 133 inmates each weekend.

No permanent arrangements have been made with Kingsport or Bristol to house the overflow of prisoners.

“They’re being very nice to us,” Westmoreland said. “They realize the situation we’ve been put in.’

Overcrowding at the Sullivan County Jail last weekend forced officials to shuffle inmates to city jails in Kingsport and Bristol. The game of musical inmates began when the Sullivan County Jail reached its capacity of 126 persons and more continued to arrive to serve weekend sentences for driving while intoxicated. ; During the weekend, sheriff’s deputies placed four women in the Kingsport City Jail and two others transferred to Bristol in an effort to make room for the 148 inmates who jammed into the jail. In the past, overcrowding has forced jailers to use other facilities, but jailers fear the weekend’s accommodations may be the norm for the future. Keith Westmoreland, assistant administrator for the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, said there is no light at the end of his administrative tunnel. “I don’t see any change. I think every week, we’re going to be fuller and fuller,” Westmoreland said. “The new DWI law has an awful lot to do with it,” he added. Westmoreland said in the past most DWI offenders were given probation or suspended sentences, so they never saw the inside of the jail. Reflecting that practice, Westmoreland said the average jail population on weekends was about 116 before the new DWI law. But now, he said the average is about 133 inmates each weekend. No permanent arrangements have been made with Kingsport or Bristol to house the overflow of prisoners. "They're being very nice to us," Westmoreland said. “They realize the situation we've been put in.’
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