Category: Sullivan County

Jail Issue on the Ballot

County Jail Issue Confronts Voters At August Balloting Paul Williams “Deplorable”... “shocking” ... “unfit for human habitation.” “Filthy bed clothes... prisoners infested with vermin... inadequate sanitary facilities... inadequate ventilation.” "...It must be seen to be believed.” These are strong words, and they weren’t used to describe the black hole of Calcutta, a nineteenth century London debtor’s prison, or a concentration camp. They are terms used by responsible citizens on a grand jury talking about that twentieth century penal institution, the Sullivan County Jail at Blountville. Condemned Building For twenty years Sullivan County grand juries have regularly lambasted and condemned the ancient brick building. For twenty years Sullivan County has sagely nodded its head in agreement and then forgotten about it. But Thursday, August 5, the people of the county will have a chance to take action on the question, if they want to. One of the questions to be voted on at the general election will be whether or not the citizens would approve a $200,000 bond issue to build a new jail. Just what has all the shouting} been about? What kind of a place is this that has been described so harshly? Almost Picturesque It is a two-story brick building constructed some time before 1900 back of the present site of the county courthouse. Outwardly, with its walls -neatly painted white with green trim, the jail is almost picturesque. Inside it’s a different story. Back when it was built and the prisoner population averaged maybe 10 persons, it was probably the last word. Today, decades later, with the prisoner load ranging from 40 to 65 persons near court sessions, the interior has become overcrowded, badly ventilated, unsanitary, and so antiquated that it doesn’t even do a good job of its primary purpose — keeping the inmates in. Jail Breaks Frequent Jail breaks, though down recently, have been fairly frequent. And two prisoners who escaped in 1953 were able to make a big hole in the wall by digging out the mortar between the bricks with rusty nails and spoons. Plumbing is primitive, toilet facilities don’t begin to meet the needs, and bath and shower facilities are all but non-existent. There aren't enough cells to properly separate the dangerous, the diseased, or the otherwise special prisoners. One prisoner told a grand jury in 1951 that, though suffering from an advanced case of tuberculosis, he could receive no treatment. A pregnant woman prisoner told the jurors that the food she got wasn’t enough to nourish her unborn child. This is the place where Sullivan County sends those deemed to have wronged society, in the hope of rehabilitating them and turning their feet toward the paths of righteousness. Into this same atmosphere are thrust also youthful first offenders, and persons who lack money to make bond before they come to trial, their only proven crime being poverty. Make Criminals “This Jury feels that we in Sullivan County are contributing to the making of criminals rather than to their correction by forcibly detaining them under shocking conditions,” stated the same grand jury, headed by Martin Karant of Radio Station WKPT in Kingsport, which so eloquently lashed the jail in the words quoted earlier. Following the recommendation by the grand jury for March of this year for a referendum the County Court laid the decision at the people’s door by calling for a vote on the proposition. A visiting construction expert told them a modern, two-story jail with a 100-bunk capacity could be built for $175,000 to $200,000. As far as the magistrates are concerned, it’s up to the people now.

Kingsport Times-News – …[We] are contributing to the making of criminals rather than to their correction by forcibly detaining them under shocking conditions… Into this same atmosphere are thrust… persons who lack money to make..

Delay is Simply Due to our Attitude

The Jail Anyone reading the last grand jury report must have come upon one point of it with a feeling of here-we-go-away. That is the paragraph devoted to the subject of the county jail. The framers of the Report in this case used restrained language; far more restrained than some others that have come in. But as the Report states, no words are adequate. It must be seen to be believed. And+in any case as far as talk goes, the subject of the County Jail has been talked out. As far as we know nobody thinks the present jail facilities are satisfactory, unless that somebody has peculiar ideas that a man who comes into the toils of the law thereby sheds his humanity. There has been indignation expressed; shame expressed; determination expressed. But no action. Every time the question is raised, the question of cost is raised. Every time the question of cost is raised, the question of taxes is raised. And every time the question of taxes is raised a great howl Is raised. We decide that Sullivan County is too poor. We have come to believe it is true. We are too poor. But not in finances. We are too poor in spirit; we are too poor in Christianity; we are too poor in humanitarianism. We are too poor in pride; we are too poor in self-respect. Let's look at the record. The first sight of the county jail by this writer was in 1938. It was taken at the request of a man locked up there. The three of us who made the grand tour at that time came away nauseated. We printed pictures, and we wrote the first piece urging that something be done. The County was too poor to do anything but deplore. 1938 to 1953. In that interval Sullivan County has grown phenomenally. Its population has increased more than fifty per cent. Its riches have multiplied. It had basked in great prosperity. But the Jail is just about what it was. We can no longer believe that adequate facilities for jailing criminals is a matter of money. It isn’t. If we are honest, we will admit that our delay is simply due to our attitude toward the criminals. Consciously or subconsciously, we are saying, “Why spend money on criminals? There are other things we need worse." The people of Sullivan County should get rid of the shame that they carry. There are many arguments, but argument is useless. It all boils down to the question of whether the people themselves are interested enough to translate some of the Christian fervor developed on Sunday morning into positive practical Christian action. The county court will take action when the people tells them positively that they want it taken. It isn’t what any newspaper says; it isn’t what the Grand Jury says. It is what the people say. How many will make themselves heard?

Kingsport News – …We are too poor. But not in finances. We are too poor in spirit; we are too poor in Christianity; we are too poor in humanitarianism. We are too poor in pride;..

Grand Jury Finds Jail A “Disgrace”

Grand Jury Finds Jail A "Disgrace"

Kingsport News – …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..

Students Report Jail is Filthy, Overcrowded, Disgraceful

Sociology Students Of Holston Valley Writes Up Visit To The Blountville Jail And Poor Home By Corena Morrell Holston Valley High School On Wednesday, March, 30th, the Sociology Class of Holston Valley High School took a trip to Blountville. The sole purpose of this trip was to observe the jail of our county, and also the County Home for the poor. Our class visited the jail first. The outward appearance was fairly presentable. Upon entering the jail, we noticed a chart which informed us as to the number of prisoners being held that day. Signs were posted on the wall which read, “Do Not Spit on the Floor, Please.” Along the wall of the waiting room were benches to accommodate visitors. The jailer accompanied the class through the halls of the first floor and on up to the second floor, where the majority of the prisoners were being kept. There were fourteen men in the “cage.” This cage, which should only accommodate eight, is used to hold the hardened, or toughest criminals. There were four colored prisoners. Most of the prisoners were playing cards, or reading magazines, their only amusements. The toilet facilities in the cells were disgraceful. The prisoners had no means, whatsoever, of keeping themselves decent and presentable. Their cots, those on the floor, on which they were supposed to sleep, were filthy with overflow from the toilet and the dirt which had accumulated in past days. The prisoners were clad in old army fatigues. Seventeen of the men were working. Visit Cells And Kitchen There were four women prisoners at that time. We noticed that one of these. women was reading a Western Magazine. Another one was filing her finger-nails. If these women had some means of preoccupation, perhaps when they are freed, their outlook on life would be different. Their toilet facilities were similar to those mentioned above. Conditions such as these tend only to harden a prisoner's attitude toward all humanity, rather than to give him a feeling of reformation. After a period of time, if a criminal would have the advantage of sanitary facilities, his desire to live a decent and worth-while life would be much greater. Criminals need a morale booster, and the Blountville jail provides absolutely nothing which would give a prisoner a better outlook on life, or the future. After making a thorough observation of the cells and cages, we were permitted to look the kitchen over. A trusty does the cooking. The kitchen was moderately clean. We noticed various “pinup” girls on the wall, such as “Good-Time Gertie,” etc. We were told that the prisoners were fed twice each day, the working prisoners were fed three times. Their breakfast consisted of coffee and biscuits, and an egg, occasionally. Beans or potatoes and cornbread made up the evening meal. The jailer informed us that they were given all they wanted, but judging from the looks.of the cornbread, one serving would be sufficient for anyone. The jail has no infirmary. If a prisoner gets sick, a doctor is called. The jail had a total of 43 "guests." Sullivan County is in desperate need of a new jail. Although we consider crime and criminals a great burden, we should strive to bring out the good characteristics in a criminal, in order that he might have a chance to “go straight.”

Sullivan County News – …Conditions such as these tend only to harden a prisoner’s attitude toward all humanity… the Blountville jail provides absolutely nothing which would give a prisoner a better outlook on life, or..

War Hampers Efforts for New Jail

Jail No Court Issue First Time in Many Meetings For the first time in several terms the question of a new county jail for the county probably will not come up when county court meets in Blountville Monday. The court has approved a bond issue for the new jail, the state legislature has approved the bond sale, but, due to the emergency, the county cannot get permission from the national priorities board to obtain the material to build the new prison. The court is meeting one week late due to the illness of County Judge T. R. Bandy who suffered a nervous collapse on April 4, and has been confined to his home for the past week. Judge Bandy said Saturday he was planning on attending the meeting of the court tomorrow. Routine matters are on the calendar for discussion Monday, and the session is expected to be brief and quiet.

Kingsport Times – The court has approved a bond issue for the new jail… but, due to the emergency, the county cannot get permission from the national priorities board to obtain the material to build..

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