Category: Sullivan County

A Near Emergency Exists in the Sullivan County Jail

In 1955 a county jail was built that was expected to serve the county’s needs for at least 40 years. Twenty-three years later a county Grand Jury report says overcrowding at the jail must be solved somehow. By MARK RODIN Times-News Staff Writer "The overcrowded condition of the jail is a result of county growth, increased crime rates and the result of Sessions Court Judges scheduling those persons convicted of DWI charges to serve time on weekends. “It is the opinion of the Grand Jury that Sullivan County needs and can afford a modern county jail of ‘sufficient size to retain those persons convicted of felonies and crimes against our tax paying citizens. It seems that our judicial system in Sullivan County is wasting time and taxpayers’ money to go through legal proceedings to convict criminals if we have no place to retain them.” Sullivan County Grand Jury report, Feb. 15, 1978. In the early 1950s Sullivan County was placing persons charged with crimes in a jail that probably was built during the Victorian era. Howard Poston, who was county judge then, can’t recall when it was built and could only describe it now as being like "an old time county jail back out in the mountain area. “It was really in a foul condition,” said Hal Carr, who followed Poston as county judge. “I would have to guess it was built about 1890,” Carr added. “I heard my father talk about some hangings there and some of the notorious people who were in there.” In 1954 voters approved a $200,000 bond issue to construct the present jail. Sullivan County Commissioner Wilfred Gillenwater of Bristol headed the building committee. Gillenwater said the $200,000 jail bond issue was the largest ever placed before voters and was second only to school construction projects. Construction on what is now the county jail began in the spring of 1955. It was of officially dedicated on Jan. 25, 1956. A newspaper article on the dedication said the new jail was “hailed as the latest word in penal institutions. “The new jail boasts maximum security construction shown to be needed by three escapes from the old building since Oct. 21, 1955,” the news story continued. Gillenwater thought the newly opened jail would be adequate for 40 or 45 years. “I don’t think we officially projected, but that’s what we were thinking,” he added. However the jail was not adequate for 20 years. ; “It is felt that a near emergency exists in the Sullivan County Jail,” a grand jury report from November, 1975 says. “These conditions are further brought to the fore at this time as a result of the Tennessee State Penitentiary refusing to accept prisoners and the resultant dangerous overcrowding of the jail,” the report added. “This grand jury has been informed of examples of danger to inmates themselves as a result of physical violence, and extreme danger to the officers who must work the jail —a direct result of overcrowding. “It is evident that the only solution to the overcrowding would be to somehow find additional cell space,’’ it continues. ‘‘We encourage those who are in a position to make a decision to take proper action to alleviate this present overcrowding as soon as possible.” State law requires each grand jury sworn in for a Criminal Court term to "inquire into the condition and management of the public prisons, and other county buildings and institutions within the county" as a "special duty.” Overcrowding and a change in judicial temperament toward prisoners’ rights since 1956 are forcing the hand of the county commissioners, who are expected to approve hiring an architect to prepare plans and cost estimates for a major addition to the jail Monday. Consultants from the County Technical Assistance Service at the University of Tennessee have recommended space for at least 150 more inmates be built onto the jail. “I'm out of room,” Gardner stated. "At one point a couple of months ago I had 133 inmates and 116 beds. “My projected figure for the minimum amount Sullivan County will need 30 years from today is space for 300 prisoners,” the sheriff added. “Look at the population growth and the fact nationally and statewide we're sort of backing off some of our probation and parole programs and more people are serving time in local jails,” he explained. “You need to plan 25 — at least 30 years in the future.” Gardner may get his 300 inmate jail. County Judge Lon Boyd is expected to appoint a special committee to handle architect selection and jail planning. “If a jail committee is appointed, that’s one of the things we'll discuss,”’ the sheriff said. Even persons guilty of minor offenses such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) find their way into the county jail — at least if they are convicted in Kingsport General Sessions Court. “We have a policy everyone convicted of driving while under the influence will be sent to jail for a minimum of 60 hours on the first offense and fined $200 and costs,” General Sessions Judge George Garrett said. That policy meant 674 persons convicted on DWI charges were sent to the county jail last year. Another 430 persons were given jail sentences through Oct.4, according to Garrett’s records. Other problems accompany the overcrowding. “When you're talking about population problems, you're also talking about the problem you cannot segregate the different types of offenders,” Gardner said. “It is not always possible to separate an 18-year-old misdemeanor offender from hard core criminals serving long felony sentences,” the sheriff added. Together overcrowding and failure to classify prisoners can lead into a federal or state courtroom, and the results there can be far-reaching as state corrections administrators learned in August. Ruling on a case filed in September 1975 by three Tennessee State Penitentiary inmates, Chancellor Ben H. Cantrell of Nashville said the state penal system violated prisoners’ rights. Cantrell said the state prison system and its administrators failed to “identify the vocational, social, mental and physicial needs of prisoners.” In addition he cited a failure to protect prisoners by ‘neglecting to grade and classify individuals in a manner as shall be most conducive to prison discipline and the moral status of the prisoner. “At a minimum, overcrowding must be eliminated,” Cantrell added. ‘‘The classification system must enable the Department of Correction to separate the potentially violent from the weaker prisoners and identify the medical, educational and treatment needs of the prisoners entering the system.” Cantrell placed the prison system under a special master to carry out court-ordered reforms. Federal courts acted earlier. The landmark decision came in Alabama where U.S. District Judge Frank Johnson placed the state's prison system under the direction of an experienced administrator who carried out major changes. More importantly a federal court ordered radical improvements in the Knox County Jail in a 1975 case where Gardner was called in as a consultant to help bring about the changes US. District Judge Robert Taylor ordered. Among those changes were: A 4,000-calorie diet daily for each inmate. The diets are approved by a nutritionist from the University of Tennessee. Inmates were provided with shoes. They also are provided with clean uniforms weekly. Inmates are given clean linen every week and their underwear is laundered weekly. The sheriff was required to add enough guards so one would watch each cell block on each shift. Training must be provided for each guard. Inmates must be classified by crime, age and sex. Inmates must be given a complete physical examination by a doctor if they are in jail more than 72 hours. Black and white television placed in front of each cell block. A daily period of exercise must be made available to all inmates. High school and college classes, reading material, and recreational equipment such as checkers and playing cards must be available for inmates. Telephones must be made available for inmates. Gardner was employed by the county technical assistance service when he was called in by the Knox County Sheriff's Department as a consultant to help make the required changes. He does not wish to see Sullivan County put in a similar position. Asked for his opinion of what might happen if a federal court mandates reforms in his jail, Gardner replied: “I'd hate to predict. “I don’t know how to predict, but I would be afraid it would be more severe and more costly than going ahead and acting on our own from my experience in Knox County,” he added. Is there is any alternative to building an addition to the jail or a new jail? “None,’’ Gardner replied.

Kingsport Times-News – …we’re sort of backing off some of our probation and parole… Even persons guilty of minor offenses …find their way into the county jail. Is there is any alternative to building an..

History is Repeating Itself

In January 1955 Sheriff G.H. Hurd, left, architect Milton Robelot and County Judge Howard Poston surveyed the site for the present county jail. The 1890s jail is in background, and the new jail was to be a vast improvement over it. In 1978, history is repeating itself as county officials seek away to replace the outdated jail of 1955.

Kingsport Times-News – In January 1955 Sheriff G.H. Hurd, left, architect Milton Robelot and County Judge Howard Poston surveyed the site for the present county jail. The 1890s jail is in background, and the new..Read More

Unsanitary Conditions Shown in Photos

Bristol Herald Courier – “On completion of receiving procedures, all prisoners are assigned to living quarters that are not detrimental to their health. The necessities that ore needed in order to maintain an adequate level..

“Deplorable” Jail Unsanitary – Usually Overcrowded

Bristol Herald Courier -…Prisoners are not permitted satisfactory living conditions and we don’t think that’s too much to expect. Punishment should not include… living in a filthy environment and a substandard diet. Should it?… Read..

Jammed Sullivan County Jail Packed With People, Problems

Kingsport Times-News – …Built in 1955 with a designed capacity of 116, the jail… according to Sheriff Mike Gardner’s Administrative Assistant Keith Westmoreland, “was obsolete before it was finished.” Westmoreland says he… Read More

Magistrates To Hear About Crowded Jail

Magistrates To Hear About Crowded Jail By DAVID OSTERHOUT Times-News Staff Writer It may not be long before Sullivan County hangs out a no-vacancy sign in front of its jail. Sheriff's department officials say overcrowding is rapidly becoming a grave problem, and if present trends continue, they'll soon be full up. And with more prisoners on hand than anticipated, the money for food also is running low, say Chief Deputy Laddie Harwood and Jailer Clyde Baldwin. Their concern is deep enough that they intend to lay the issue before the Sullivan County Court Safety Committee and buttonhole other magistrates so that thinking can begin on how to bring about a solution. Harwood said, “We need to get the people thinking. The taxpayers realize that we've got the (prisoners ) up here. They must also realize the prisoners are human beings who have to be fed and housed.” Looking toward the future, the law officers estimate that jail capacity would have to be doubled to accommodate the rapid rise in inmates. Baldwin said, “We're going to need either another floor or a new jail. If we add an extra floor, the whole thing will have to be surveyed to see if the foundation would take it. And now, the plumbing is busted, worn out. It would probably have to be reworked from the bottom up. Harwood said he isn't criticizing county court for jail conditions although he did say that in the case of the plumbing, “It's been studied to death,” and nothing’s been done. “We have complete confidence in the court. We're going to tell them, "We've got the problem; you've got the wisdom." We just want to lay our proposal before them,” said Harwood.He added, “These (the court members) are businessmen. They know if the prisoners are out on the street, someone will have to pay. Turning them loose is not the answer.” So Thursday, Harwood will go before the safety committee to lay groundwork for some type of jail capacity study. He also intends to talk to "interested" squires on other committees. Since prisoners are arriving in greater numbers than expected, Harwood will be making two main points: the jail isn't big enough, and the food budget is being stretched to the limit. Present capacity is 116 beds including a special wing for juveniles. Last weekend, There were 116 prisoners at Blountville, according to Baldwin. In theory, there should have been enough beds to go around, but that was not the case. Baldwin uses a 12-person cell for female prisoners. Since he rarely has more than eight women inmates, the other beds stay empty. That leaves four prisoners without a bed. The overflow is put in the “holding tank” or sleep on mattresses on the cell floors. Harwood blamed the inmate influx on two developments: the declining economy which he feels has led to more felony cases and to an increased emphasis on making sure that drunk drivers get at least a two-day taste of jail life. Harwood said the increase in prisoners was first felt in 1974. He pointed to a graph which reflected these statistics on felony cases: 1971 — 1,077; 1972 — 993; 1973 — 901; 1974 — 1580; with 2,580 projected for this year.” Harwood said, ‘‘This started at about the time of the recession. When times get harder, it seems like we get more inmates.” And in the case of DWI violators, the Sullivan County District Attorney General's Office has estimated that that total amount of jail time has risen by about 700 per cent from last year. With a normal jail population of about 100 prisoners, earlier budget estimates are outdated. The food budget was figured on populations of about 65 to 70 prisoners. Harwood said he’s keeping within the estimated costs through cutbacks on waste. “We're just like the housewife. We know we only have just so much money, and we're trying to live with it,” he said. Nevertheless, Baldwin feels, "We'll never make it. We'll run out of money just like we did last year.” The problem is further aggravated by overcrowding at state institutions. The sheriff's department was notified Tuesday that the Tennessee State Penitentiary will not accept any new admissions until Friday. Harwood commented, “It’s only three days this time, but who knows, they could pull it again.”

Kingsport Times-News – …‘Sheriff’s department officials say overcrowding is rapidly becoming a grave problem, and if present trends continue, they’ll soon be full up…‘This started at about the time of the recession.”… Read More

Jail Photos

Kingsport Times-News – These photos of the Sullivan County jail were taken on a scheduled tour after the cells were cleaned. Chief Jailer Clyde Baldwin (left) walks by the dinner bench. Two inmates are confined..

Conditions Still Inhumane

Kingsport Times-News -…There is no room in the jail for anything resembling… more than the confinement of livestock. Attitudes will have to change before they’ll stop treating a man like livestock & wondering why he..

Petition for Humane Conditions

County Jail Inmates Petition For Better Food, Facilities By RICK PATTERSON Times-News Staff Writer No one ever said being in jail was the good life. but how bad is it? A petition signed by 35 of the inmates of the Sullivan County Jail, about half the population, has been brought to the Times-News by an interested party. As part of his duties, he is in and out of the jail on a regular basis, and he called the conditions there “pretty bad.” For various reasons he asked to remain anonymous. The prisoners for themselves say: “This speaks for everybody serving time in Blountville jail. There are guys here that have been in here two to three months awaiting trial. “Some don't even know when their trial is or haven't been appointed a certain date for their trial “No TV or radio is allowed in this jail when most other jails have them. “They do not provide sheets or blankets “We are not allowed a store order, just candy bars. They do not allow relatives to bring us food on Sunday (regular visiting hours) or any other time. “We are fed two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. At 7 a.m. we are fed gravy, biscuits and jelly. At 4 p.m. we are fed muffins, beans and something sweet, most of the time. The most meat we see is twice a week and that is not very much (meat when they do have it.) “They will not let newspaper reporters in here. They are afraid because of the conditions in this jail. “This is verified by the signing by the prisoners of this jail.” Regarding trial dates, Carl Kirkpatrick, district attorney general, said “I can’t say that isn't happened (waiting months without having atrial date set), but I think it is unlikely.” Once a defendant has been indicted by the grand jury, he is brought before the court to be placed on the docket. “We get a jail list before the docket is sounded, and try to set those who haven't made bond at the early part of the docket. Sometimes his attorney can't go along with it,” Kirkpatrick said. If a defendant is caught between sessions of the grand jury, he could have a long wait in jail The grand jury in the past met about every six weeks, “but it’s getting to be about every month,” because of the case load. Defendants who have to wait in jail throughout the trial process are by law given credit for every day they spend in jail if they are convicted. Radio and television are used in larger jails to give the prisoners something to do with their time and give them incentive to keep their cells clean. The general practice is to move the set around the hallway according to which area is cleanest so those men can see it and decide what programs to watch. Sullivan County three or four years ago allowed inmates to have radios in their cells, according to Magistrate Bob Ammons, member of the safety committee which periodically inspects the jail. The policy was changed because prisoners abused it. They were rewiring the radios to make hotplates, Ammons said. The county was afraid someone would “get popped,” so to protect itself and the inmates, all electrical conduits, including lights, were removed from the cells. The cells are now lit from the hallways Ammons was enthusiastic about using a television set to motivate the prisoners and give them something else to think about while they were waiting out their trial or sentence. He said he would bring the idea up at the next meeting of the safety committee. Regarding the diet of the inmates, Jim Stanley, retired Air Force and head of the kitchen, said “It’s just like the military. If the men in the mess are complaining, they must be happy.” Stanley read off the menu for the coming week: fried chicken on Sunday, ribs and sauerkraut Monday, meatloaf Tuesday, beef stew “and good beef stew. I eat it myself.” Wednesday, Thursday liver, Friday fish, and baked beans and wieners Saturday. The food budget is set at $30,000 a year by the County Court, Stanley said, and generally because of increases in food costs, the jail goes over its budget. By state law the menu is submitted to the County Health Department and checked for nutritional value Only non-working inmates are fed twice a day. Those on clean-up and road crew details are fed three times a day, as are women, Juveniles and mental cases, Stanley said. The practice of allowing visitors to bring food and snacks to the prisoners was stopped because the inmates had no place to store it except in their cells. The jail was developing a bad insect problem, Stanley said Ammons said the prisoners were supposed to have blankets. The Safety Committee inspected the jail last Thursday, “and it was 75 degrees in there.” Ammons added, “I cannot answer to that right now, but I'll look into it.” Both Ammons and Stanley offered to take the media into the jail anytime. Stanley extended an invitation to dinner Ammons said, “My job is to protect both the county and the prisoners. The more we can do, the better off we will all be. But there’s only so much we can do with X-amount of dollars, what's your priority?”

Kingsport Times-News – ..,A petition… has been brought to the Times-News by an interested party. As part of his duties, he is in and out of the jail on a regular basis, and he called..

Jail Labeled ‘Substandard’

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.

Kingsport Times – 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..

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