Sullivan County Jail Timeline

Intergenerational Trauma: The Sullivan County Jail

Why do we keep doing this?

September 1 1863

1795 -1863 Sullivan’s First Jails

The first court-house was built of logs and was, of its kind, a massive structure. It was built on the south side off Main Street nearly opposite to the present one (1909.) The jail was placed in the rear of the court-house. It was in the same year, 1795, Blountville became the county seat. About thirty years after the first court house was built in the town, a brick one replaced it which served until 1853, when the present building was erected. The building, with its contents, was destroyed by fire during the battle in September, 1863 - the walls remained intact, however, and are still in use. Three jails have been built to accompany the court-house - the first immediately in the rear of the building, the second on a lot adjoining, also in the rear and the third between the sites of the first and the second.

Historic Sullivan – The jail was placed in the rear of the court-house. It was in the same year, 1795, Blountville became the county seat… Three jails have been build to accompany the court house – the first immediately in the rear of the… Read More

August 6 1868

Sullivan County Jail to be Rebuilt

The Sullivan county jail, which was destroyed during the war, is to be rebuilt soon. The brick for the building are being burnt.

The Sweetwater Forerunner – The Sullivan county jail, which was destroyed during the war, is to be rebuilt soon. The brick for the building are being burnt.

January 15 1869

New Jail Completed

Bristol News – The new jail at Blountville has been completed. It supplies the place of one burned during the war.

September 7 1875

Prisons We Have, Asylums are Scarce

Mr. J. Wm. Hopkins, formerly a printer of this office, but subsequently employed as such in middle Tennessee and Ky ., has recently gone deranged on the subject of religion, imagining himself called to preach, and at times that he was Jesus Christ himself. For some six months he has been living here without employment. He has been taken to Blountville Jail. Alas for the legislation of the present day. Prisons we have, but asylums are scarce. Those whose reason has been dethroned, must go to jail with our criminals.

Bristol News – …He has been taken to Blountville Jail. Alas for the legislation of the present day. Prisons we have, but asylums are scarce. Those whose reason has been dethroned, must go to jail with our criminals… Read More

October 24 1891

Sullivan County Prison a Disgrace

The biggest jail delivery that has ever been known in Sullivan County, Tenn was made at Blountville this week. The old hull, which is a disgrace to this county, contained about a dozen prisoners…

Chattanooga Times – The biggest jail delivery that has ever been known in Sullivan County, Tenn., was made at Blountville this week.* The old hull, which is a disgrace to this county, contained about a dozen prisoners, most of whom… Read More

December 26 1899

Movement to Secure New Jail

The Journal and Tribune – A movement has been started to secure a new jail at Blountville.

July 6 1901

Blown Up with Dynamite

On Saturday Will McCracken, a prisoner in the Blountville jail, who was assisting excavating for the new jail foundation, was blown up by dynamite. His clothing and flesh were torn by flying gravel. At last accounts his condition was critical.

Morristown Republican – On Saturday Will McCracken, a prisoner in the Blountville jail, who was assisting excavating for the new jail foundation, was blown up by dynamite. His clothing and flesh were torn by flying gravel. At the last accounts his… Read More

July 27 1901

Under Construction

Sullivan County's New Jail Modern Structure Now in Course of Erection at Blountville, Sullivan's Capital. Correspondence of the Sentinel Blountville, Tenn., July 26. - The accompanying picture gives a perspective view of the county jail now in the course of construction at thus place. The building is to be thirty-three feet eight and one-half inches by thirty-nine feet seven and one-half inches. It will be a two-story building. with basement built of hard brick. fire-proof and covered with slate. The basement is an eight-foot story; ﬁrst and second stories ten feet each. The first and second ﬂoors and ceiling are to be concreted on fire-proof steel I-beams and corrugated arches. There will be four steel cells and a corridor; three minor cells, all of iron, and one hospital cell with bath room. Also a bath room for prisoners. The dimensions of the four steel cells are six and one-half by eight feet each, with ceiling seven feet high: the corridor will be six feet wide and thirteen feet long. The building is to be heated by hot air registers in all the rooms, heating apparatus to be placed in the basement. The contract price for the jail is $7,800. It was let to a jail building company, of St. Louis, Mo., and is to be ﬁnished by September 1. The picture of the new jail is presented through the courtesy of L.J. Bardet, photographer.

Knoxville Sentinel – The accompanying picture gives a perspective view of the county jail now in the course of construction at this place. The building is to be thirty-three feet, eight and one-half inches by thirty-nine feet seven… Read More

November 27 1901

Ready for Occupancy

Knoxville Sentinel – …The jail cost the county about $8,000. It is a three story structure, equipped with steel cages, modern systems of locks, peep holes, sanitary appliances, etc. There is little danger of a jail delivery here in this new… Read More

June 1 1908

Sullivan Co. Jail, Blountville, Tenn.

A vintage postcard of the Sullivan County Jail shows the facility as it looked c. 1908. Located behind the county courthouse in downtown Blountville, the jailhouse, at left, was built in 1870. The larger building, at right, no longer stands.

November 15 1912

County Jail is Filling Rapidly

The Sullivan county jail is filling up rapidly as a result of the success of Assistant Chief of Police Samuel L. Odell, in running down thieves. During the past five days he has sent three prisoners to the Blountville jail to await trial on the charge of larceny.

Bristol Herald Courier – The Sullivan county jail is filling up rapidly as a result of the success of Assistant Chief of Police Samuel L. Odell, in running down thieves. During the past five days he has sent three prisoners to await… Read More

August 9 1916

Jail Crowded to Double Its Capacity

Bristol Herald Courier - Building Intended to Accommodate 20 Prisoners Now Housing 53. Sheriff Barger to Ask for More Room. Will Request County Court to Build Additional Cells in Present Structure. Declaring that the Sullivan County jail is housing 53 prisoners while it was built to accommodate only 20, Sheriff George S. Barger yesterday announced that he will at the next term of the County Court, in October, ask the magistrates to either build additional cells in the building or provide money for a guard to watch it night and day. "The 53 prisoners in the jail building now crowd it to more than twice its capacity." said Sheriff Barger. "It was built to accommodate only 20 prisoners and has only 3 cells in it, one of which cells is a large one and where most of the men are being confined. The condition created by this crowding of that many men together is not only unhealthful for them but dangerous for the county because there is not room enough for them in the three cells in the building. There are two other cells also, an insane ward and a hospital ward, but it is not safe to keep active prisoners in them. By the building of two or three more large cells in the present building accommodations could be made for as many as 60 prisoners without making an enlargement of the building. I shall ask the County Court to do this at the next meeting or else provide guards to watch the jail night and day to prevent the convicts from escaping." The number of prisoners now in the county jail is the largest the county ever had, said Sheriff Barger. "Nearly two-thirds of these men were arrested in Kingsport," he said. "The rapid growth of that city attracted many people with criminal instincts and it has, naturally, been the scene of more arrests than the rest of the county."

Bristol Herald Courier – …The condition created by this crowding of that many men together is not only unhealthful for them but dangerous for the county because there is not room enough for them in the three cells in the building. There are… Read More

September 7 1916

Board Reports Deplorable Conditions

Sullivan County Jail A representative of the Tennessee Board of State Charities, which is authorized by law to investigate all public institutions in the State, has inspected Sullivan County Jail at Blountville and found it to be in deplorable condition as to sanitary arrangements and conduct. In the first place, according to the inspector’s report, fifty-nine prisoners were crowded into the jail, which has a maximum capacity of twenty-five. The condition makes proper care of the prisoners impossible, to begin with, but it is only part of the trouble. The jail is practically without toilet facilities and the plumbing is miserable. There are practically no bathing facilities. There is no running water, and drinking water must be carried to the prisoners in buckets. Each cell is provided with a straw tick and these ticks are filthy. There is an average of seven prisoners to a call when there should not be more than two. The floors, walls, bars, windows, cells, everything is insanitary, and the atmosphere in the jail is foul. The jail yard presents the appearance of a city dump and the filth is sufficient to jeopardize the health of the prisoners and the entire community. There, briefly, are the conditions which the secretary of the Board of State Charities found at the Blountville jail. The board recommends that the two large rooms on the first floor be property fitted up with cells, which would give capacity for at least twenty more prisoners; that the jail be equipped with sufficient toilet and bathing facilities; that hammocks or bunks take place of the filthy straw ticks; that provision be made for the separation of white and colored women prisoners; that a water system be installed; that provision be made for the separation of young and first offenders from older offenders; that prisoners be provided with a change of clothing and opportunity to bathe at least once a week; that the entire interior of the jail be cleaned and painted and kept in proper sanitary conditions. The County Court should adopt the recommendations of the State Board of Charities and proceed as soon as possible to make the needed improvements. The jail should never have been allowed to get in the condition in which the Board found it. A further idea on just how disgraceful this condition is may be gained from that fact, as stated by the inspector, that some of the prisoners have been in jail for more than seven months without a change of clothing and without an opportunity to wash the clothes they have been wearing. Proper sanitation being practically impossible as long as the jail is so badly overcrowded, probably the first step that should be taken is to equip the two large rooms mentions with cells. In the meantime, the county officers might cease to arrest tramps or “hobos” who are not suspicious characters or who may be trying to make their way out of the county. Also, it may be well enough to relieve the congested conditions of the jail by releasing some of the tramps not confined there on condition that they leave the county.

Bristol Herald Courier – A further idea on just how disgraceful this condition is… prisoners have been in jail for more than seven months without a change of clothing and without opportunity to wash the clothes they have been wearing…. Read More

January 27 1917

Conditions Do Not Improve

It seems that conditions at the Sullivan County Jail at Blountville do not improve. There still are close to 60 prisoners confined in that institution, which was built to accommodate twenty-five prisoners. The capacity of the jail is more than doubly taxed, and what is worse, the sanitary conditions are said to be very bad. Overcrowding an insanitary prison is not a modern idea. And there is no prospect of early release from the congestion except by the liberation of prisoners. The County Court finally decided some time ago to enlarge the jail, and the contract for an addition was let, but the latest report from the contractors is no more definite than that construction work will start some time in the future. The recent term of the Circuit Court resulted in the release of but few prisoners, leaving fifty-seven still in jail. It is not said that unless fewer prisoners are consigned to the jail in the next month, it will be necessary to hold a special term of court, thus entailing extra cost upon the county. Perhaps most of the prisoners confined at Blountville are guilty of more or less serious offenses and must be punished according to the law. But it is also probable that many of them are held for offenses of a trivial nature, such as vagrancy and “hoboing.” It would help the situation materially if these prisoners were turned loose with the admonition to move on out of the county.

Bristol Herald Courier – It seems that conditions at the Sullivan County Jail at Blountville do not improve. There still are close to 60 prisoners confined in that institution, which was built to accommodate twenty-five prisoners. The capacity… Read More

October 15 1920

These Conditions Are Disgraceful

A copy of a lengthy letter to Dr. E. E. Dudding of the Prison Relief Society at Washington, D. C. , signed "Prisoners of Blountville, Sullivan County Jail," has been sent to the Herald Courier. The letter requests that "some Christian person, man or woman," be sent to the jail to investigate sanitary conditions and to inquire into the treatment of prisoners confined there. It also suggests a number of questions to be asked the prisoners, among them the following: Are there any vermin in your beds and in your clothes? Are your blankets ever washed? Is your clothes ever washed? Do the rats build nest in the mattresses you sleep on? What do you have to eat for breakfast? for dinner? for supper? How much do you have? Do you get enough? Do you have the same diet all the time? Do you get water more than twice a day from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.? Are there any venereal diseases in a bad state among the prisoners? Do these prisoners drink water from the same bucket with other prisoners? Eat from the same pans? Wash their faces and hands in the same pans? If you are sick do you get proper medical attention? If the attending physician gives you medicine and orders you to stay in from work, does the Jailer or the Sheriff make you go out and work? Do you ever have any trouble about your mail? Do you Write letters, some of them important, and trust them to Jailer to be mailed, that never reach their destination? If conditions at the Sullivan County jail are such as these suggested questions are presumed to indicate, these conditions are disgraceful. No doubt there are prisoners at Blountville as elsewhere who would complain in any circumstance, but the question whether Sullivan County prisoners have just cause for complaint. Are conditions at jail sanitary or notoriously insanitary? Are the prisoners properly treated and properly fed? In short, is the institution conducted on a humane plan? Evidently, the prisoners desire an opportunity to answer these questions. The opportunity should be given them, but it should not be necessary to bring the situation to the attention of the Prison Relief Society at Washington. There are organizations or authorities nearer who could and should investigate conditions at the jail.

Bristol Herald Courier – …Are there any vermin in your beds and in your clothes? Are your blankets ever washed? Is your clothes ever washed? Do the rats build nest in the mattresses you sleep on? What do you have to eat for breakfast? Read More

June 5 1921

Jail is Crowded

Bristol Herald Courier – Twenty-eight prisoners are now held at Blountville, according to a statement made yesterday evening by Sheriff J.S. Peoples. This number crowds the building almost to capacity and the county officials will… Read More

October 21 1925

Jail Conditions a Menace to Health

Revolting and intolerable conditions exist in the Blountville, Tenn. jail, according to a letter made public here yesterday by a prominent social worker. The letter... declares lice, bed bugs, poor food, and lack of proper sanitation constitute a serious menace to the health of all confined there. Crowded conditions in the jail and disease also play a part in making the place unfit for human habitation.

Bristol Herald Courier – Revolting and intolerable conditions exist in the Blountville, Tenn. jail, according to a letter made public here yesterday by a prominent social worker. The letter… declares lice, bed bugs, poor food… Read More

March 5 1928

Filled to Capacity

Jail Now at Capacity. At the present time there are eighty-eight birds in the cages at the Sullivan County jail. Of these jail birds, 75 are white and five negroes, nice are white women and one negress. At the last term of court Sheriff Ford was taking care of 82 prisoners and at the term before that 92 criminals were guests of the sheriff. The next session of court will be held the third Monday in May and at the rate the law is being enforced in Sullivan County, Sheriff Ford and Jailer Rogers expect to have all they can accommodate by that time. However, Jailer Rogers declares he will accommodate all who care to enter, even though they have to be piled several deep on account of the limited space in the jail. It is also understood that the next session of the County Court will be asked to make an appropriation to build an addition to the present structure, which is wholly inadequate for efficient law enforcement. On account of the vigilance of Sheriff Ford and Jailer Rogers, not a prisoner escaped during their administration, even though at times standing room had been a premium. The sheriff and his deputies are proud and their friends are highly elated over the record they have made, Many Stills on Hand The room at the jail where the captured stills are kept is running over and it is understood these stills, which have been chopped to pieces, will be sold for junk shortly to make room for more, as several bids have been received. Jailer Rogers was uneasy Saturday night, left he would have to go through Sunday with the odd number 79 prisoners and probably would have done so had not an obstreperous individual showed up at the jail shortly after noon. The bird came to this jail to visit a relative inmate. He was highly “lit up” and refused to be arrested. He was promptly subdued by the jailer and placed where he could not be bitten by dogs. Strenuous efforts are being made to keep the jail in a sanitary condition and disinfectants are used almost daily. Not a sign of a “creeper” has been seen for more than a year and each one who enters is taken to the inspection room and given the “once over” if they look at all suspicious. Only recently Jailer Rogers received an individual from Bristol who was taken to the inspection room and found to be reeking with vermin. He was promptly deloused, thoroughly sprayed, made to take a bath and his clothes burned, after which he was given new wearing apparel and placed with the other prisoners. However, with the crowded condition of the present jail it is almost impossible to keep it in a sanitary condition as those in charge would like, and Sheriff Ford is convinced and the citizens of the county are agreed that more room is needed under the present system of law enforcement. Yesterday afternoon the Bristol corps of the Salvation Army held services in the jail and Rev. Dan Graham, who resides at Blountville, holds services for the prisoners quite often.

Bristol Herald Courier – …Citizens of the county are agreed that more room is needed under the present system of law enforcement… The room at the jail where the captured stills are kept is running over… Read More

August 2 1929

Record Number in Blountville Jail

Blountville Jail Has Record Number Over 100 Prisoners Awaiting Trial Sullivan County jail at Blountville has about as many as can be well accommodated. There are about 100 to care for and feed until the next term of the court. This is the greatest number, it is said, that has ever been incarcerated there at one time in the history of the county. It is stated that about 40 of this hundred are from this vicinity, and that about half of them are women. Out of ten sent from Kingsport yesterday, five were women. About 45 of the prisoners are being worked on the county roads, and is the largest prison force ever placed at work for the county.

Johnson City Chronicle – Sullivan County jail at Blountville has about as many as can be well accommodated. There are about 100 to care for and feed until the next term of the court. This is the greatest number, it is said, that has ever been… Read More

August 16 1931

Greatly Overcrowded

Blountville Jail Clean, Crowded, Evangelist Avers Capt. Dan McDonald Says He Cannot Say as Much For Other County Jails in East Tennessee Sullivan county's jail, although greatly overcrowded, “is as clean as it can be" and the sheriff (John L. Ford) is doing all he can to take care of the men," according to Captain Dan McDonald, prison evangelist who said yesterday he had visited 85 chain gangs and jails in the last two months. Other East Tennessee county jails he has visited do not merit commendation but the fault lies generally with the county instead of the sheriff, he said. Rev. McDonald, a Baptist minister who devotes his time to prison work, said conditions revealed by the Wickersham report on jails and penal institutions were not exaggerated. “We, as a nation, have lost confidence in one another and as a result our prisons are filled to more than capacity. The conditions in many of them are not such that prisoners will have much respect for law and order when their terms are completed,” he said. McDonald, has never, he stated seen a sheriff who wanted a jail packed with prisoners. ° “If the jail is overcrowded, it is not the sheriff’s fault--he can't build jails. It is the county's fault. 1 know of one that is more than 100 years old and is being used today, holding far more prisoners than it was ever intended to.” The evangelist said “several penal institutions in Tennessee have great room for improvement, particularly Brushy Mountain.” Of the Sullivan county jail, McDonald said Sheriff Ford was doing all possible and that the jail was well kept but that the 104 prisoners are too many for that size jail, which at one time was considered crowded with 85 men. The evangelist said the Virginia state road convict camp near Hilton was well conducted by Warden Reams, whom he described as “a very fine gentleman who treats the boys all right and has their respect.” He also said Sheriff H. W. Culbertson was handling the Scott county jail well but that he was handicapped in his efforts because it is “antiquated and overcrowded.” McDonald's theory of prison reform, he stated, is to seek "the cooperation of the prisoner with the officials, thereby leading to constructive prison reform, the moral and physical uplift of the prisoner, and the restoration of the offender to good citizenship.” He visits chain gangs and county jails, he said, because “there !s the beginning of prison reform and because they do not, as penitentiaries do, have chaplains.”

Bristol Herald Courier – …We have lost confidence in one another and as a result our prisons are filled to more than capacity… Conditions… are not such that prisoners will have much respect for law… Read More

July 24 1934

Blountville Jail Has ‘Full House’

Kingsport Times – The number of prisoners incarcerated in the county jail at Blountville today had swelled to 50… A majority of the prisoners now in jail are being held on drunk charges or other minor offenses…. Read More

September 24 1936

New Jail Urgently Recommended

Grand Jurors Recommend New Jail in Sullivan Co. Improvements Are Also Suggested at County Poor House; Sanitary Conditions Criticized A new county jail to take care of the present crowded and unsanitary conditions and repairs to the county poor house were urgently recommended by the grand jury of the Sullivan county circuit court yesterday afternoon shortly before. being dismissed by Judge Shelbourne Ferguson of duties in the September term of court, now in progress at Blountville. The report stated that the grand jury had visited the county poor house and found conditions very good in the main building. “The concrete building in the rear is deplorable,” it said, “and we strongly recommend that something be done immediately to make this a more livable and sanitary place. The main building needs some repairs to floors and steps, and the buildings should be painted.” In the comments on the jail it was stated that “conditions in the county jail are splendid, when you consider the plant as it stands at present, and we congratulate the sheriff and jailer upon the job done with so little to work with.” “Sanitary conditions,’ the report continued, “should be looked after very carefully, and. we fear for the health of the prisoners in these overcrowded conditions. We recommended a new jail to take care of this overcrowded condition and also recommend that the prisoners be worked, believing that exercise and fresh air is vitally necessary to the health of the inmates. Most of the prisoners are young men and their health should be safeguarded in every manner possible, and every effort made to get them started back to right thinking and right living.” Following the report of the grand jury Sheriff J. D. Newland told a Herald Courier reporter that in his opinion the greatest needs of the county were for a new jail and a new poor house. Sheriff Newland said that although the jail was originally intended to house no more than fifty prisoners, and even then was crowded, that there was now a population of eighty-three persons and many times had been more than a hundred, In speaking of sanitation in the building he mentioned that there was only one bath room, it in the kitchen of the lower wing, and that water for prisoners to take baths had to be carried to their cells in washing tubs.

Bristol Herald Courier – A new county jail to take care of the present crowded and unsanitary conditions and repairs to the county poor house were urgently recommended by the grand jury of the Sullivan county circuit court yesterday… Read More

January 24 1937

County Should Not Permit Such Conditions to Continue

No one with feeling for the welfare of others could visit the Sullivan county jail at Blountville and not come away sadly and better informed on human misery amidst unfortunate surroundings. The present overcrowded and unsanitary condition in the building, that was erected at the turn of the century when prisoners were few is the same situation that has existed over a long period of time. Members of the county grand juries and other groups have for years recommended the construction of a new jail, but without results. One hundred prisoners are huddled together in sixteen narrow cells. The number includes nineteen women, mostly young girls. The male population is composed largely of young boys. The building is kept clean and Sheriff J.D. Newland and Jailer Sam Feathers use every available means for the comfort of the inmates, but facilities are limited. There is not a single bath in the building. Water for baths is carried to cells in tubs. All the lavatories are in poor condition, one being so rotted away it has to be propped up. "How do you live like this?" was a question asked last week of a man from among eleven crowded together in a small cell on the second floor. "Live?" he said, not in the manner of a question but seemingly as a statement of amazement that anyone would consider it living. "Why don't they just get a shotgun and shoot us all?" In one of the cells, containing two bunks and a small cot, leaving but little space in which to walk about, were ten young women. One was 25 years old, the ages of the others ranging between 16 and 19. "Thank God," said a 17-year-old girl, "I'm getting out of here in nine days." Outside in the hall, was a large negro woman, lying on a floor mat beside a pile of jail supplies. The keeper explained that it was the only place she could sleep as colored and white were not placed together and there was no room anywhere else. Another colored woman was quartered in a small supply room near the kitchen. In one cell upstairs there were ten white men, so crowded together the appearance was like that of beasts corralled in a narrow pen. Four of them were on the floor, playing cards. They were sitting on crossed legs, in order to leave room for the cards. Six were sitting on bunks, perspiration dripping from their faces. Three boys were recognized as first offenders. They were housed with several men with long criminal records. At this point one of the officers explained that the crowded conditions made it necessary to place persons with contagious diseases in the same cells with healthy prisoners. Sullivan county should not permit such conditions to continue.

Bristol Herald Courier – No one with feeling for the welfare of others could visit the Sullivan county jail and not come away sadly and better informed on human misery amidst unfortunate surroundings. The present overcrowded… Read More

December 5 1937

Proposed Jail Acutely Needed; Present Housing Condition Disgraceful

Proposed New Jail Acutely Needed by Sullivan County Present Housing Condition Disgraceful A New Jail Needed The special committee appointed recently by the Sullivan county court to investigate overcrowded conditions at the county jai] in Blountville will recommend to the court at its January meeting the erection of a new building, and it is to be hoped the magistrates no longer will defer action on a problem that grows more acute with the passing of the years. The committee did not jump at conclusions in deciding that new jail was needed, rather it gave serious consideration to the advisability of enlarging or remodeling the present structure in the interest of economy. That the committee, in the final analysis, rejected the latter course as one of false economy speaks well for the foresightedness of its individual members. The cost of a new jail need not be prohibitive, particularly if prison labor and rock from the county’s quarries are used, as has been suggested. The new building, as will be recommended to the court by the committee, would house at least 150 prisoners and would be modern and substantial in every respect, permitting of enlargement. should that become necessary at any future time That Sullivan county really needs a new jail will not be denied by anyone remotely acquainted with the situation as it now exists and has existed for many years past. Briefly, the jail is as out-moded as other relics of the “horse and buggy” era in which it was erected and no amount of enlarging or remodeling within financial reason will make it otherwise, and to incorporate it in a new building would be to destroy the architectural effect of the whole. Built to accommodate at most not more than sixty prisoners, the jail frequently houses more than one hundred and-these of necessity are crowded together almost indiscriminately, only the sexes being segregated. Such a situation, aside from rendering non-existent the little personal comfort to which even a prisoner is entitled, tends to indescribable sanitary — conditions - scores are compelled to use the same toilet, healthy prisoners are crowded in with diseased, and there is no way even to isolate those afflicted with venereal diseases. Few owners of thoroughbred horses would care to subject their animals to such dangers of environment The situation is not to be construed as an indictment of Sheriff J. D. Newland and his deputies nor of their predecessors in office. Sheriff Newland is making the best of a bad situation - he Is charged with the responsibility of confining to the county jail those committed to his care by the courts and he has no choice but to confine them to the building set aside by the-county for that purpose. That matters are no worse are due to his efforts on behalf of the prisoners, some of which he has released on parole rather than subject them to imprisonment under the circumstances. Sullivan county's jail has long been a disgrace to a people otherwise justly proud of their progress as a great unit of a great state, The jail committee has pointed the way to correction of that disgrace - it is up to the county court to do the correcting.

Bristol Herald Courier – …Sullivan county’s jail has long been a disgrace to a people otherwise justly proud of their progress as a great unit of a great state, The jail committee has pointed the way to correction of that disgrace… Read More

January 6 1938

Action Deferred on Jail Issue

No one in Sullivan County can doubt that the county badly needs a larger and modernly-equipped jail. The need has been stressed by Grand Jury after Grand Jury in reports to the Circuit Court. It long has been recognized by the County Court, which finally, several months ago, named a special committee to study the jail situation and make recommendations. This committee now has recommended the construction of a new jail designed to accommodate immediately 150 prisoners, and ultimately 200 prisoners. But action on this recommendation has been postponed by the County Court until its April term. Pointing out that the special committee had met on three different occasions and arrived at the conclusion that a new jail was necessary, Judge Bandy proposed that the court go on record as approving the construction of a building of permanent character with proper equipment, to cost not more than $100,000 and, as required by State statute, place the issue before the people in a referendum on the date of the county primary in April. As already said, action was deferred, Some of the Magistrates seem opposed to any expenditure for jail improvements, much less the issuance of $100,000 in bonds, the estimated cost of the jail recommended by the special committee. These Magistrates protested in effect that there should be no further increase in the county’s indebtedness for any purpose - that the burden which the taxpayers of the county are i carrying already is heavy enough. They predicted that if a proposal to issue $100,000 or even $50,000 in bonds for a new jail is submitted to a referendum it will be defeated. ‘Meanwhile, the county jail at Blountville - must continue to house more than twice as many prisoners as it was built to accommodate. It Is notoriously overcrowded, making necessary the herding together of first offenders, petty violators and hardened criminals. Not only is the jail much too small, but its equipment is inadequate and out of date, and conditions in the institution naturally are unsanitary, As a place for the confinement of wrongdoers it poorly serves the purpose and is reproach to the county. Since the population of the county is increasing, it is to be expected that the jail population will increase. How is the problem of housing this population, already too serious to be dismissed with a shrug of the shoulder, to be met? It can only be met by providing a larger and more modern institution in which to confine the county’s lawbreakers. Unfortunately, we can not have public improvements without paying for them. When they are as sorely needed as an adequate jail is needed in Sullivan County, we should accept that fact and assume the obligation.

Bristol Herald Courier – No one in Sullivan County can doubt that the county badly needs a larger and modernly-equipped jail. The need has been stressed by Grand Jury after Grand Jury in reports to the Circuit Court… Read More

April 2 1939

Obsolete, Crowded Jail is Reflection on County

Kingsport Times – Sullivan county’s out-moded and over-crowded jail at Blountville is a throwback on the progress of the county. This not only is the opinion of the writer and many citizens of the county who have visited the jail… Read More

August 20 1940

Disgrace To The County’s Good Name

Jail Lashed By Sullivan Grand Jury Sullivan county circuit court grand jury, renewing a plea that is becoming ancient, today recommended abandonment of the present Sullivan county jail and construction of a new structure large enough to accommodate the county’s jail population and to “provide some semblance of comfort for the inmates.” The full text of the grand jury’s report: "We have visited the county poor farm and thoroughly inspected the rooms of the inmates, talked with them and also inspected the kitchens, dining rooms, and all out houses connected with the farm establishment. We found the buildings and rooms clean and in a sanitary condition. The inmates seemed to be contented and praised the amount and condition of the food. We heartily commend Mr. Carter in the way and manner he conducts the business of running the institution. “We have visited the county jail and made a thorough investigation. The building is in a run down and deplorable condition and in some instances complete windows are missing from their places, giving the prisoners no protection from wind, rain, and other ‘weather conditions. The cells are too small to accommodate even the number of men who are now imprisoned, but we were told by the jailer that the average number of prisoners is almost, if not twice as many as the number now in keeping. One Toilet For 14 Men “The odors from the kitchen smell unlike food; the walls are black and dirty; in the cage on the second floor there was one wash basin for about fourteen men; one toilet, and one wash tub that seemed to be a poor excuse for a place to bathe; we were told that the cells, bed clothes, and walls were infested with vermin of all kinds, in general everything we found we earnestly believe was so filthy, and out of date it would tend to breed criminals, rather than reform. We, however, do not blame the keepers for we believe they are doing as well as anyone could do under the circumstances and conditions. Disgrace To The County’s Good Name “Believing as we do; that the present jail is a disgrace to the good name and government of Sullivan county, or to any government providing places of safe keeping for criminals and violators of our laws: “First: We recommend that,the present building be abandoned and a new building erected; a building large enough to accommodate all those who may be confined and one so constructed as to provide some semblance of ‘comfort for the inmates. “Second: We request that the newspapers of Kingsport, Tenn, and Bristol, Tenn., make investigations, take pictures, and publish editorials and articles in order that their finds might be placed before the citizens of Sullivan county and that they may know the facts and become aroused to the extent that this deplorable condition may be corrected. “We have inspected the courthouse and have found ‘it in fair condition. “We have examined the records of the county court clerk and in our opinion the records, bonds, etc., are in excellent condition, with the exception of the bond of Mrs. Ollie Foram Dancy, dated August 6, 1940. This bond has not been signed by the county judge as ever having been approved in open court. “We recommend that Mr. Chase, the county superintendent of schools, be provided with a complete system of files suitable for the needs of his office and duties.” The report was signed by: Albert Morton, foreman, Boyd E. Ritter, J. Frank Nelson, A. C. Vires, H. R. Kilgore, C. G. Willey, G. D. Gaines, J. A. Neil, Robert W. Coleman, W. S. King, W. F. Flanary, D. W. Moffitt, and Charlie Jones.

Bristol News Bulletin – …Believing as we do; that the present jail is a disgrace to the good name and government of Sullivan county, or to any government providing places of safe keeping for criminals and violators of our laws… Read More

February 7 1941

Time to Get Together and Raise a “Rumpus”

Mr. George E. Penn, Jr., Kelly & Penn Kingsport Tennessee Dear George: Enclosed is my check for $2.75 in payment of my share of the Christmas expense for the "Jail Birds". While we are on this subject, I might say that I understand that the conditions in the City Jail at Kingsport and also the County Jail at Blountville are simply disgraceful. I have fortunately escaped being incarcerated in either of these jails from what I hear of them, I would prefer to be locked up in a cow stable or a pig pen than thrown into one of these jails. As citizens of Kingsport and Sullivan County, I was wondering if it not about time we got together and raised a "rumpus" about this condition. Surely there is enough money to be had to build a decent jail in each of these communities. The present situation is a disgrace. It is all right to give these fellows a Christmas present, but it seems to me the best Christmas present would be to give them decent jails. Am I right - or am I wrong? Sincerely yours, PSWilcox:hpb Signed P. S. Wilcox Copy to - Mr. J. Fred Johnson Mr. J. C. White Mr. J. C. Stone

Dear George: …Conditions in the City Jail at Kingsport and also the County Jail at Blountville are simply disgraceful… I was wondering if it is not about time we got together and raised a “rumpus” about this condition… Read More

August 22 1941

Can’t Talk Ourselves Out of this Disgraceful Situation

People's Column The Sullivan County Jail Editor Herald Courier: We hear much discussion about a very important subject, our county jail, but very little is being done about the matter. We cannot talk ourselves out of such a disgraceful situation as exists at our county seat. This famous, much publicized jail has a room about 12 by 18 feet to take care of from 60 to 70 prisoners. It contains one old toilet too old and dilapidated to be repaired. No bed nor bunks just the floor to sleep on, a breeding place for all sorts of germs and diseases, no hot water. In other words, the place where we keep our prisoners is a disgrace to the county and state. We have spent much money on ‘our “Health Center" on the hill just above, trying to improve the health conditions in our county, and yet, just below, in our jail we have conditions that breed disease and human beings are kept by our county in a place not fit to raise hogs or cattle. The prisoners kept in this jail are so crowded and the sanitary conditions are so bad they are now fighting each other like wild animals, breaking jawbones, etc. I believe you will agree with me when I say there is not a farmer in this county who would put sixty hogs in a space the size of the jail and expect them to live. There will be an election in the spring of members of the county court, but several men may be killed before then if conditions are not changed. If the people of this ‘county will mail me a postal card asking for a new jail and a change in conditions, I know how we can get it, regardless of whether the county court wants it or not. Yours very sincerely, M.E. TRAINHAM Bristol, Tennessee

Bristol Herald Courier – We hear much discussion about a very important subject, our county jail, but very little is being done about the matter. We cannot talk ourselves out of such a disgraceful situation as exists at our county… Read More

April 12 1942

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 the new prison.… Read More

July 8 1944

Jail a Disgrace to the County. Motion to Replace it Fails.

Motion For New Jail At Blountville Fails Twenty-one magistrates voted “aye” as against 12 “no’s” for a new county jail costing $90,000 but the motion failed, a majority of the court membership, or 25 favorable votes, being the legal requirement for the appropriation. The motion for a new jail, to replace the antiquated structure in Blountville, built 42 years ago, was offered by Dave Barger of Blountville, attending the court for the first time as new member succeeding the late H. H. Massengill. “We look with scorn upon nations that treat their war prisoners cruelly, yet we treat our own civil prisoners here in Sullivan county as though they were animals,” said Barger. “The present jail is a disgrace to the county. We stand indicted before every grand jury of the county for many years and before the citizens of the county.” George Barger of Kingsport who again led the opposition against the jail appropriation said: “If there are escapes at the jail, it is not on account of the jail being inadequate. It’s somebody’s fault in letting them get away.” To this Dave Barger replied: “‘Why, they have dug their way out of the jail with a Spoon!”

Bristol Herald Courier – The present jail is a disgrace to the county. We stand indicted before every grand jury of the county for many years and before the citizens of the county… Read More

May 26 1946

Continuing Shame of Sullivan County

Kingsport Times – We do not know at this writing if the grand jury will make any report on the condition of the jail, but it will miss a bet if it does not, because the present condition of the jail is just as bad as it ever was, from all reports… Read More

May 28 1947

How Much Longer Will the County Permit Conditions Such as These?

Bristol News Bulletin – A 17-year-old boy from Kingsport is shown in his cell at Blountville. Charged with larceny of seven cartons of cigarettes and an electric drill, he has already been living in the small 6×8 room for eight days… Read More

July 8 1948

County Jail Found ‘Unfit Place For Man Or Beast’

Kingsport Times – …We recommend that future grand juries just simply look back over the reports, change the date on any one of them, and turn it in as their report… This would save the members of the grand jury some valuable time. Read More

April 21 1949

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 the future… Read More

October 1 1950

It’s a Disgrace… Some Day We ‘ll Do Something About It.

Mac’s Window By W. J. McAuliffe Words are used correctly if they convey the same idea or image to the hearers that the user has in his own mind, even if the dictionary says he’s wrong. *** As often as Grand Juries meet, We get reports with words of heat About the jail. Each grand jury in its turn With sharp words make a man’s ears burn; They never fail. We’re told that something must be done And what's the Net Result? none! That’s pretty rotten. And in a little while the tale About the shameful county jail Is soon forgotten. Oh yes, it's only fair to state That we decide to investigate And name a Committee. It makes reports and 'recom- mends,' And there again the matter ends; And that's the pity. We all agree, its a disgrace, It puts a blush on every face; Yet we condone it. Because when action is proposed To another committee off it goes, And we postpone it. Some day we 'll do something about it. The optimists tell us, we should not doubt it. But someone mentions, The final abode of this Great Unsaved, Generally known as Hell, is paved, With Good Intentions.

Kingsport Times-News –

…As often as Grand Juries meet,

We get reports with words of

heat

About the jail.

Each grand jury in its turn

With sharp words make a man’s

ears burn;

They never fail.

We’re told that something must

be done

And what’s the Net Result?

none! … Read More

January 20 1951

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 sold to build this new jail… Read More

April 19 1953

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; we are too poor in self-respect…. Read More

July 25 1954

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 bond… their only proven crime being poverty. Read More

July 25 1954

3/4 Must Sleep on the Floor

Bristol Herald Courier – Sixteen women are held in the cell of which a portion is shown above. There are only three cots in the cell, so 13 must sleep on the floor… Eighteen men occupy the “cage” pictured at right, its dimensions 8×10 feet… Read More

August 5 1954

People Vote in Favor of New Jail

Loser---One Dilapidated Jail Prominent Among Losers in the county balloting was the dilapidated old jail structure at Blountville. County Court gave "tentative" commitment prior to the voting, to abide by wishes of Sullivan people should they express a desire for a new county jail by voting “yes” to an appropriation of $200,000 for the purpose in a referendum held in connection with the county general election. Most magistrates, in a recent poll, expressed willingness to appropriate for a new jail if the people wanted it. The referendum called for a special tax to be levied to produce the money.

Sullivan County News – …County Court gave “tentative” commitment prior to the voting, to abide by wishes of Sullivan people should they… [vote] “yes” … in a referendum held in connection with the county general election… Read More

May 4 1955

Bids Open for New $200,000 Jail

Sullivan Jail Bids Opening This Morning Bids for erection of the new $200,000 Sullivan County jail will be opened at 10 o'clock this morning in the office of the county purchasing agent at Blountville. The plans for the new jail were completed recently by Milton P. Robelot, Kingsport architect. General contract for construction of the building and the contract for furnishing and installing jail equipment will be let under separate contracts. The new building will be a two-story, concrete and brick modern structure. It will be erected. at the immediate rear of the county courthouse at Blountville and will replace the inadequate and antiquated jail building some distance at the rear from the courthouse.

Bristol Herald Courier – …The new building will be a two-story, concrete and brick modern structure. It will be erected at the immediate rear of the county courthouse at Blountville and will replace the inadequate and antiquated… Read More

January 24 1956

Special Day: People of Sullivan County will no longer be Embarrassed by Jail

Sullivan County Turns Eyes Toward Blountville Wednesday will be a special day for Sullivan County ‘That’s the day officials have chosen for dedication of the new jail - a jail which will replace the crumbling ruins from which prisoners have fled too easily and too often in the past. The very fact that the new jail is costing the taxpayers some $200,000 should be reason enough for the public to turn out in huge numbers for Wednesday's event. However, the new jail means much more than just an outlay of cash. It means security for the people of the county. It means they will not be plagued by the thought of mass escapes, of criminals, some docile, some dangerous, on the loose. It means they will no longer be embarrassed when the subject of jails is mentioned. Wednesday, then, should be a day on which as many folks as possible in Sullivan County drive to Blountville and inspect the building which they have constructed. The modern jail is part of the new era of law enforcement in Sullivan County. Everyone can take pride in the knowledge that, after too many years, we finally have - in the space of a year - "caught up" with the times.

Bristol Herald Courier – …The modern jail is part of the new era of law enforcement in Sullivan County. Everyone can take pride in the knowledge that, after too many years, we finally have – in the space of a year – “caught up” with the times…. Read More

January 25 1956

Officials Dedicate New Jail, Open for Public Inspection

Sullivan County News – Read More

July 19 1964

Engineers Recommend Correcting Inadequate Conditions at Jail

Kingsport Times-News – …Septic tank systems now serving the courthouse and jail are inadequate for the needs, one official commented. Whenever a pump used to send sewerage liquids from a tank near the jail to a field… Read More

July 22 1965

Residents Petition County to Address Unsanitary Conditions at Jail

Court Will Get Petition 117 Blountville and area residents have signed a petition concerning the unsanitary conditions and the odor from a disposal field behind the jail in Blountville. The petition will be presented to the current Session of the Quarterly Court of Sullivan County, and reads as follows: "PETITION TO THE QUARTERLY COURT OF SULLIVAN COUNTY We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Sullivan County, respectfully call to the attention of the Court that there has existed for a long time an unpleasant and perhaps unsanitary condition in the immediate vicinity of the courthouse and jail. The odor which apparently comes from a disposal field behind the courthouse and jail is extremely unpleasant and always present in and around the jail. In addition to the fact that people having business at the jail must endure this stench, it would seem to be an unreasonable imposition upon the sheriff's officers and prisoners. We therefore urgently request that the Court take proper steps to investigate and remove the cause of this situation,”

Sullivan County News – …The odor… is extremely unpleasant and always present in and around the jail… people having business at the jail must endure this stench… an unreasonable imposition upon the sheriff’s officers and prisoners….. Read More

August 3 1967

Rats Thrive On Jailhouse Sewage

Kingsport Times – …The pumphouse sits atop the completely full cesspool; the exposed raw sewage inside teems with millions of maggots, less than 50 feet from the jailhouse kitchen… Read More

April 9 1969

Hunger Strike in Jail

To Protest Conditions Sullivan Jail Prisoners Go On ‘Hunger Strike’ Twenty prisoners at the Sullivan County Jail at Blountville apparently not appeased by the county’s promise to appoint a non-partisan committee to keep an impartial watch over the jail, have started a hunger strike. Sheriff Bill Wright said 20 of the jail's 64 prisoners have not accepted food since Monday. “We slip their trays to them, and they just push them back,” he said. Wright said, however, that jailer George Love noted that “a few biscuits were gone” when he picked up the refused trays. The prisoners action was the culmination of a series of complaints over the past year. “A bunch of them stomped out a lot of plumbing about a month ago, so some of their privileges were taken away,” said Wright. The prisoners Were protesting the loss of television sets and radios, with some saying the sheriff's department even had refused to allow their families to bring them Easter dinners over the weekend. The cutoff of the Easter food evidently gave the prisoners the idea of going on the hunger strike. “The ringleaders of this thing are guys who have nothing to lose. Convicted felons who are awaiting the results of their legal appeals,” said Wright. “They're having a ball up there — whooping, hollering, and singing.” Several of the prisoners recently wrote to County Judge Lon Boyd and Criminal Court Judge John Byers, asking for public airings of their complaints. The judges denied the request for such hearings. The hearing request included this appeal: “We ask that the public bear in mind that a majority of the inmates here are convicted of no crime, but are only waiting for the courts to act. These men are being ‘punished’ for the crime of being too poor to post bail. We sincerely believe that most of the restrictions placed upon us by the sheriff's department amount to nothing more than harassment and persecution for the audacity of pleading not guilty or perhaps refusing to show respect to a few persons who do not act respectable. Some of the staff (sheriff's department workers) would like to give fair and humane treatment but have been threatened with suspension from their job.” Wright denied the allegation that his men have been threatened with suspension for treating the prisoners with kindness. “There are some of them (prisoners) that just can't be handled with kid gloves, though,” he said. The letter, signed by 25 prisoners. also said they were the subject of a major "shakedown" after their grievances became publicly known. ‘The inmates contended deputies had confiscated all their reading material, food, playing cards, watches, belts. billfolds, toilet articles and even paper bags and boxes used for storing clothing. “One man was put in the ‘hole’ for the infamous crime of possessing a transistor radio, said the prisoners. “He had a broken leg at the time which had not been treated. Another guv was put in the hole for some unexplained reason. These men were among a group which have the effrontery to ask for enough decent food to live on.” Late last week county officials had agreed to ask Sullivan County Court to appoint an impartial Jail Commission, to be composed of three persons who would visit the jail regularly and file written reports about the condition of the jail and its inmates. State law permits the formation of such a commission. Judge Boyd, Attorney General Carl Kirkpatrick, and Sheriff Wright will select the three persons to serve on such a commission, subject to approval by the magistrates. But this is a time-consuming procedure, the inmates have indicated, and they want action now.

Bristol Herald Courier – …a majority of the inmates here are convicted of no crime, but are… being ‘punished’ for the crime of being too poor to post bail… for the audacity of pleading not guilty… Read More

June 27 1969

Grand Jury Scores Jail Conditions

Kingsport Times – Sullivan County’s Grand Jury went visiting Thursday and found the county jail ‘‘dirty,” but all other county offices in good condition. The jury, in a five-page report, said the jail cells were particularly dirty… Read More

September 15 1970

Jail Labeled ‘Substandard’

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 day, saw the condition… Read More

December 17 1973

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 the conditions there “pretty bad.” … Read More

February 16 1975

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 won’t use a mop… Read More

February 16 1975

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 in the typical cell (shown above)

October 29 1975

Magistrates To Hear About Crowded Jail

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

April 24 1977

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

May 1 1977

“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 More

May 1 1977

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 of personal hygiene are made available. “

October 15 1978

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 addition.. or a new jail? “None,’’ Read More

October 15 1978

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 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.

October 5 1979

Committee To Review Jail Addition Cost

One of the major issues Sullivan County commissioners must face will be coming into focus next week. The topic will be a major addition to the county’s overcrowded 23-year old jail that may cost more than $5 million. A jail planning committee of five commissioners appointed by County Judge Lon Boyd will sit down Wednesday and discuss two major questions. First, is $5 million too much? Secondly, how is the money going to be raised? The jail committee also must review architect Allen Dryden's preliminary plans and see if any proposed facilities can be cut out to keep the cost down. With the current political climate in Sullivan County it’s a good bet commissioners more than likely will let voters decide in a bond referendum rather than take the attitude they are elected to do what's best for Sullivan County and find 17 yes votes to approve a bond issue without the voters. Factors leading to a public vote will be the fact that Sullivan County already is obligated to repay $40.6 million in school construction bonds authorized without a referendum and the 50-cent tax rate increase repayment of the bonds will impose on rural property owners next year. As many as 133 inmates were housed at one time last year in a jail built to hold 116, making the addition necessary. Men, women and juveniles are not put in separate areas and several lawsuits charging inhuman conditions have been filed in U.S. District Court against the county and Sheriff Mike Gardner. County officials believe federal authorities may force the county to build a new jail. At the committee's direction, Dryden has prepared plans for a two-story addition that would provide beds for 200 inmates. It would be attached to the present jail in the courthouse parking lot. "It's really an inverted T wing that goes off the end of the existing facility with the leg of the T facing north,’' Dryden said. "What they've got it to costing now would be better than $5 million, and, of course, the longer you put it off the higher it’s going to get," committee chairman Lake Barnes said. "We're going to have to see whether the commissioners want to put it before the voters or go with the approval of 17 members,” Barnes said. Dryden said the proposed jail addition would take a year to 15 months to build. "If you look at this presently planned facility as being a solution for the next 30 years, it becomes financially feasible — at least in the eye of average figures around the country,” Dryden said. “But what's financially feasible in the country may not be in Sullivan County. That’s what the political process is going to have to determine. "I won't know what the budget amount of the project would be until the building plans are definite," Dryden said. “We have waded through a mountain of regulations and minimum and maximums and all kinds of standards for jails from various points of view — all of which were very conflicting and very contradictory,” he added. "The cost could run somewhere between $15,000 and $42,000 per bed depending or whose standards and whose point of view you're looking at.” Extensive remodeling also is planned for the present jail, but its capacity would be significantly reduced to an estimated 50 to 60 inmates because federal and state regulations would require the cells to meet current standards.

Kingsport Times-News – …As many as 133 inmates were housed at one time last year in a jail built to hold 116, making the addition necessary…and several lawsuits charging inhuman conditions have been filed in U.S. District. Court… Read More

July 10 1980

Inspector Cites Jail for Filth

A state inspector found Sullivan County’s jail filthy on two visits this year. “They were cited for the walls and floors not being clean in the cell blocks and for the toilets and washbasins,” said. Colis Newble, who has the responsibility of inspecting county jails in East Tennessee. Newble visited the jail June 24 — just six days before a county grand jury report finding the same conditions was issued. “Some of the walls were defaced,” he said. “They were filthy and needed to be washed and painted. The sanitation of the toilets and washbasins is self explanatory. Newble also made “a thorough inspection of the jail” Jan. 2. Newble said Sheriff Mike Gardner or the person he names as jail administrator is responsible for cleanliness in the jail. “That would be my way of thinking,” he commented. Gardner confirmed Newble’s findings from January. “We got gigged on the personal cell areas,” he said. However, the sheriff strongly feels inmates, not deputies assigned to the jail, should clean their quarters. . “I don’t hire anyone to clean my house up, and I’m not going to spend taxpayers' dollars to clean up after the inmates,” he added. ‘‘That’s their obligation the same as it’s your obligation to clean your house.” Gardner and Keith Westmoreland, chief deputy sheriff and the person responsible for jail administration, said they have not seen Newble’s report from last month's inspection. “The inmates are given ample cleaning supplies each and every day to clean their respective cells,’ Westmoreland said. “Those cells are painted probably about four or five times a year,” Westmoreland added. “We have probably spent $1,000 on paint in the past year.” Kyle W. King, the grand jury's foreman, takes the opposite view. “Somebody's going to have to clean it,” King, a chemical engineer at Tennessee Eastman Co., said. “If he can’t get the prisoners to do it, where are you going to draw the line?” “I realize you can’t have a jail as clean as your have your home,” King said. “There were some ladies on the grand jury who were interested in cleanliness. They took the trouble to go to the Bristol (Tenn.) city jail, and they were comparing this to the Bristol city jail.” King said most of the grand jurors had “never been in a jail before.” “The grand jury report came as a complete surprise to me the way it was written,” Westmoreland said. “Every grand jury until this one which has toured this jail since 1976 (when Gardner was first elected) has given this jail a good rating in so far as the cleanliness and administration are concerned.” Overcrowding and the lack of facilities to serve inmates at the jail has been mentioned in grand jury reports dating back to 1975. State law requires the four grand juries sworn in each year to inspect the jail and other county buildings. Constant prodding about overcrowded conditions and federal court orders forcing other Tennessee counties to build new jails finally prompted county commissioners to ask Kingsport architect Allen N. Dryden Jr. for detailed plans and blueprints for remodeling and enlarging the jail to hold either 216 or 312 persons. The plans are expected to be ready by fall. The most recent grand jury report criticized other areas of the jail. It said “the kitchen as a whole needs a gound scouring from top to bottom including all pots, pans and utensils. “You could probably get five gallons of grease off the cooking utensils, grill, etc,” the report adds. Newble did not find the kitchen unsanitary. “I did not find anything grossly wrong with the kitchen facility other than citing the hood and air filter over the stove because they were dirty,” the inspector said. King also said some of the inmates “looked dirty.”

Kingsport Times-News – …Overcrowding and the lack of facilities to serve inmates at the jail has been mentioned in grand jury reports dating back to 1975… Constant prodding about overcrowded conditions and federal court orders… Read More

January 21 1981

Architect Presents Sullivan Jail Plans

Kingsport Times-News – Rendering by Art Associated shows “small” plan of proposed jail

July 1 1981

Sullivan Jail Crowded, Jury Says

“Extreme crowding” in the Sullivan County Jail was one of several problems listed by the county grand jury yesterday in a report to a county judge. |The grand jury, which has the power to close the jail, told Criminal Court Judge Edgar Calhoun the jail provides only 42 percent of the space required by Tennessee law. Build a new jail or expand the present one, jurors recommended. Jurors said crowded conditions at the jail caused the early release of some prisoners. Sheriff Mike Gardner said he has asked some judges for early releases for prisoners convicted of misdemeanors because of crowded conditions. “It’s a common problem today in prisons,” Gardner said. The sheriff said overcrowding wasn't restricted to cells: Deputys’ shift changes are performed in hallways, reports are written in hallways and there is a lack of locker facilities for officers. The grand jury's report to Calhoun didn’t just point out weaknesses. Sheriff’s Department employees were “commended” for their performance “in spite of the physical and financial limitations placed on them.” The jury expressed concern about manpower in the Sheriff's Department, noting that “fewer than 12 patrol officers per shift serve the 80,000 Sullivan County residents who reside outside the cities.” The report urged more money be spent on the department. Jurors sampled food at the jail and called it “good.” They said hot water problems at the jail were due to misuse of facilities by prisoners. Prisoners are “tearing up fixtures and plumbing in general,” Gardner said. The jury said they could find no solution to the hot water problems. Prisoners complained to the grand jury about inadequate medical care, but the jury reported to Calhoun that “soon after our visit a male nurse started to work at the jail. We believe that should much help the medical care problem.” Grand jurors also inspected the Sullivan County Home for the Aged and the Sullivan County Children’s Home. Both places were in satisfactory condition, jurors reported.

Kingsport Times-News – “Extreme crowding” in the Sullivan County Jail was one of several problems listed by the county grand jury yesterday in a report… Prisoners complained to the grand jury about inadequate medical care… Read More

January 11 1983

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.’

Kingsport Times-News – …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… Read More

September 28 1984

Sullivan Jail Fails State Test

Overcrowding cited as major flaw Just two hours after Sullivan County jail officials met in Kingsport to discuss jail improvements, a state board in Nashville denied certification, blocking an increase in state aid. During their lunch meeting, some members of the county jail committee expressed hope that the facility eventually would receive state certification and, therefore, increased state funding. But at midafternoon, other officials said, the state Board of Control for the Tennessee Corrections Institute denied certification of the overcrowded jail. The main reason for denying certification to Sullivan County’s facility, said state Director of Jail Inspection Chuck Fisher, was overcrowding. Tennessee Corrections Institute minimum standards require 25 square feet per inmate. He said the Sullivan County jail workhouse has 4, the trusty and female sections 13, and another part of the jail 20 — still not good enough. : Also, 16 of the jail’s 47 sinks are inoperable, as are five of the 47 commodes. There is no lighting in some of the individual cells, and the water heating system is inadequate. At the committee meeting, Sheriff Mike Gardner said confusion resulting from the crowding was one reason convicted murderer Ronald Kaywood was able to walk out of jail Monday. He also acknowledged in a later interview that a hearing today will determine if two jail guards were guilty of any improprieties in the escape. When a new or improved jail is built, Gardner said, “security should remain a top priority.” Gardner notified the committee of a recent opinion by the state attorney general that county jails must comply with “each and every” minimum state standard, rather than a “majority” of them. The committee reviewed three options for improving the jail: revamping one of two plans the county already paid for but which were rejected by county commissioners as too costly; renovating part of the jail and adding some new sections; or a plan submitted previously by Sullivan County Attorney General Carl Kirkpatrick. “The general public has the idea that we’re trying to build a Taj Mahal, and all we're trying to do is comply with minimum standards,” Gardner said. The Sullivan County jail is one of the 59 county jails, workhouses, penal farms and detention centers that were denied certification in Thursday’s quarterly Board of Control meeting. There are 109 such facilities statewide. In other state prison action, Lt. Gov. John Wilder said a rash of escapes from state prisons has made communities less willing to accept even work camps. Wilder said residents of Wayne County are not as comfortable as they once were about the 125-bed work camp under construction in their district. “T believe 90 percent of the people down there are against this thing now,” Wilder said. The state Building Committee. of which Wilder is a member, voted Thursday to continue construction of a second work camp in Carter County. An estimated $800,000 cost overrun had delayed the project. Correction Commissioner Ernest Pellegrin announced approval had been given to build a third camp adjacent to the Lake County Regional Correctional Facility.

Kingsport Times-News – Just two hours after Sullivan County jail officials met in Kingsport to discuss jail improvements, a state board in Nashville denied certification, blocking an increase in state aid. During their lunch meeting… Read More

February 10 1985

Numerous Lawsuits May Lead to Construction of New County Jail

Bristol Herald Courier – [County officials] look at countless lawsuits from jail inmates, all of which may lead to a federal court order mandating the construction of a new jail for the county. Read More

June 11 1986

Sullivan Officials Considering Ways to Reduce Jail Crowding

Sullivan County officials, elated and "a bit surprised" by the $4.28 million jail construction bid, are scrambling on two other fronts involving the jail and its population for years to come. The two issues are the Community Corrections Act and a class action lawsuit against the county by jail inmates. Both may be resolved this month, and both were the subject of urgent meetings Tuesday. Most pressing in terms of time is the county's participation in the state Community Corrections Act. A proposal must be in Nashville by 3 p.m. Monday, and not until Tuesday did a critical element fall into place — support from the sentencing judges. After receiving assurances that the rehabilitation program funded by the state would include residential treatment for alcohol and drug abusers, Calhoun said he would write a letter in support of the county's application. Calhoun described the treatment center as “our greatest need,” in part because it would provide a refuge for mentally retarded and emotionally disturbed criminals who “don't belong with the general inmate population." He said 80 percent of the criminals he sentences have drug or alcohol problems which are not addressed in jail or prison. Such treatment, if successful, could reduce “addiction problems” that could later reduce the crime level. Calhoun also had harsh words for Gov. Lamar Alexander and the state for shifting the burden of jail overpopulation from the state to the local level "The governor and the Department of Correction can reduce the population and is in fact required to do so. But they choose not to, causing prisoners to back up in jails. Why local governments stand for that I don't know.” Calhoun did not speak for other sentencing judges, but said others he has spoken with are in basic support of the program. He said he would write a letter supporting the program after the county passes a resolution on the program at a called meeting Friday. The program would allow for alternatives to imprisonment for certain inmates — nonviolent or first offenders — who would be on probation and perform community service work and, in some instances, pay restitution to their victims. If the county applies by Monday and if its proposal is accepted, the county will share up to $3.2 million with seven to 10 other programs the state is expected to fund this year. Making the Community Corrections application even more important is the fear that U.S, District Judge Thomas Hull on June 24 may halve the population of the Sullivan County Jail of about 180, County Executive Lon Boyd, County Attorney John McLellan III, Sheriff Mike Gardner and other officials met with the county's judges Tuesday afternoon to consider “contingency plans” in the event that Hull rules jail overcrowding and conditions a violation of inmates’ constitutional rights. Among alternatives being considered are delayed sentencing for inmates, releasing them on their own recognizance before trials, renovation of a closed school, the county's acquisition of the building next to the old post office in Blountville, renting other property or constructing a metal building that can later be converted to other uses. Hull threatened to cut the jail population in half at a hearing this spring when he certified several inmates’ suits a class action. Instead, he gave the county an ultimatum to act decisively and quickly to rectify problems at the jail regardless of delays in the construction of the new jail.

Kingsport Times-News – …Calhoun described the treatment center as “our greatest need,”… He said 80 percent of the criminals he sentences have drug or alcohol problems which are not addressed in jail or prison… Read More

June 25 1986

Conditions at Jail in Sullivan Ruled Unconstitutional

Bristol Herald Courier -…One expert said overcrowding and lack of recreation was so bad that many long-term inmates suffer severe psychological problems. And, he said, because of lack of adequate fire safety equipment and… Read More

July 3 1986

Sullivan County Ordered to Take Actions at Its Jail

Bristol Herald Courier – …”We are dealing here with the bottom-line conditions of human existence. Nothing less than the dignity of man has been implicated by the offensive conditions of the Sullivan County Jail.” Read More

January 23 1987

Sullivan Jail Work Progresses

Construction of the new Sullivan County jail, located at the Blountville Bypass. is moving along steadily. The new facility is due to be completed in September and will house 213 inmates, relieving overcrowded conditions which have plagued the existing jail.

Kingsport Times-News – Construction of the new Sullivan County jail, located at the Blountville Bypass. is moving along steadily. The new facility is due to be completed in September and will house 213 inmates, relieving overcrowded conditions which have plagued the existing jail.

August 24 1987

Video Footage: Final Inspection of the New Jail

Footage was recorded by WD Harless at the final inspection of the new Sullivan County jail in Blountville, Tennessee.

August 30 1987

County Enters New Era with Dedication of Jail

Kingsport Times-News – …Saturday, the county dedicated its new 221-bed, 55,000 square-foot jail… DeVault said she expects the jail ‘‘to be a solution to many of the problems that have plagued the sheriff and the county.. Read More

February 12 1988

Sullivan’s new jail crowded

Kingsport Times-News – …At the time the commission was planning for the jail it thought it was allowing room for seven to 10 years’ growth. “The population that is being held is much larger than anticipated,” he said … Read More

January 15 1989

County Executive Views Situation as Vicious Cycle

Speak the words "overcrowded jail" and Sullivan County leaders have plenty of things to say. County Executive Keith Westmoreland likes to describe the ensuing discussion as a "gripe session" and it isn’t long before one understands why. At best, Westmoreland sees the county heading toward the same problems it experienced before construction of the $6 million county jail when the old jail faced severe overcrowding, and no immediate help from the state was in sight. "It’s a vicious cycle," Westmoreland said Friday. ‘"It’s the same situation with the old jail; we'll be back in federal court for overcrowding." "Then what are we going to do, build another jail?" Westmoreland said. The county jail continues to be filled to capacity — with a once-deemed "temporary" jail annex still in full operation — and the county sees no slack in boarding state prisoners. By his own admission, Westmoreland has long "raised cain" to legislators about matters such as the state's decision to place a cap on funding to counties for board bills, but the expenses don’t stop there. Medical expenses for inmates are always high and the county continually faces lawsuits filed by state prisoners. The lawsuits usually focus on complaints about their housing in the county jail. "They (state inmates) have no access to the luxuries they would have," Westmoreland said about inmates the county is required to house. Also, the county must pay for additional personnel to oversee operation of the jail annex which stays full, Westmoreland said. About 110 state inmates were housed in the county jail last week, "We've got plenty of other expenses than holding and feeding," Westmoreland said. Westmoreland finds fault with state policy that requires prisoners to stay overnight in a hospital before providing funding reimbursement. "The Tennessee Corrections Department is trying to make crooks out of everybody," Westmoreland said. County Commissioner Bob Ammons agreed Friday that fellow commissioners, for the most part, carry some resentment against the state for their continual jail dilemma. "Why should we on the local level be required to pay for state prisoners?" Ammons said. “The state should take care of its own,’’ Ammons said. Commenting on the state cap on board bills, Westmoreland said, "We don’t want their money, we want them to take their people." "It irritates the commissioners, but we're powerless," Ammons said. "The state needs to stop throwing the burden on the property tax," he said.

Bristol Herald Courier – …“It’s a vicious cycle,” Westmoreland said Friday. ‘”It’s the same situation with the old jail; we’ll be back in federal court for overcrowding.” “Then what are we going to do, build another jail?”… Read More

September 24 1991

Jailers Find Stress to be Inescapable

Kingsport Times-News – At top… Allison Mechem tours the women’s cell block of the Sullivan County Jail… Deputy Steve Hinkle, bottom, fingerprints Mechem to display part of the “booking-in” process… Read More

February 28 1992

Sullivan Jail Time Becoming ‘By Reservation Only’

Kingsport Times-News – The “terrible delimma” is having a jail complex that is designed to hold 317 prisoners but [must]… accommodate up to 380… “‘We, as judges, don’t want to use deferred sentencing, but we have to”… Read More

January 15 1993

Women Crowd the Jail

Sullivan County Jail faces ongoing overcrowding of female prisoners and must alleviate the situation, Sheriff Keith Carr told county commissioners Monday night. "I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel as far as reducing the population" of female inmates, Carr said. "There’s no room at the inn," Carr told the Administrative Committee of County Commission. "There’s simply no place to put the females." The committee, which is charged with overseeing jail operations, responded by voting 6-0 with one absent to recommend approval of a resolution that would study the problem and come up with a recommendation on how to solve it. The proposal will go before the Executive and Budget committees this week, and the full commission Jan. 18. "The female facility at the Sullivan County Jail is designed for a maximum occupancy of 20 prisoners and we have routinely housed 27 to 28 female prisoners," Carr said in a prepared statement. "Usually, 12 to 14 of these females are felons." Of those 12 to 14, Carr said that seven or eight are women already convicted of felonies but unable to be moved elsewhere because of limited space for females in state prisons. "Statewide, we desire to put people in jail for their crimes but we don’t desire to build the facilities," Carr said. Added jail space is also needed for laundry facilities because of poor ventilation in the current laundry room, county Purchasing Agent Joe Mike Akard said. Commissioner Craig Rockett of Bristol said he had read that Knox County was housing some prisoners in school buildings, but Carr said that would require hiring more staff and ultimately be more expensive than other alternatives. Carr said the situation is caused partly by sentencing reform that made former felony convictions into misdemeanor convictions, putting prisoners into county jails instead of state prisons. Also, he said more females are committing felonies and that Tennessee has a shortage of prison capacity for female prisoners. Brought into the jail are those arrested in Sullivan County, including those arrested by the Sheriffs Department, Bristol Tennessee Police, Bluff City Police and some by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Kingsport Police. Kingsport has its own holding facility used for up to 48 hours per inmate. "The Tennessee Corrections Institute and the federal courts require segregation of felons — armed robbers, murderers from misdemeanants — shoplifters, DUIs, etc. We are not able to satisfy this requirement with the continuing increasing population problem,” Carr said. Carr lauded judges in the county for working with officials to keep overcrowding to a minimum and said that state officials have helped with male and female overcrowding as best as they can with limited resources. "We've rarely been able to get females into the (state) institution in the past year," Carr said. "It certainly has a trickle-down effect. The problem certainly cannot be erased." The committee voted to support a resolution to be written by Chairwoman Margaret DeVault of Bristol but sponsored by Carol Belcher of Blountville and seconded by Ron Reedy of Kingsport. The measure would have County Executive John McKamey appoint a committee to study the problem and determine if an in-house or outside study should be conducted on how to fix the problem. "Most probably the county will ask for multiple outside studies," Carr said after the meeting. Members are to include Carr or a member of his staff, Akard and possibly county commissioners. McKamey said state corrections officials might also participate, and Carr said federal prison officials are available on a limited basis for advice. Voting for the measure were Belcher, Rockett, Michael Surgenor of Bloomingdale, Reedy, Marvin Hyatt of Piney Flats and Harold Childress of Kingsport. Mike Rutherford of Friendship was absent.

Bristol Herald Courier – Sullivan County Jail faces ongoing overcrowding of female prisoners and must alleviate the situation, Sheriff Keith Carr told county commissioners Monday night…”There’s no room at the inn,”… Read More

March 12 1995

No Room in the Jail

Sullivan County sheriff says ‘get tough on crime’ measures require more space Jail bays designed to hold a mere 16 inmates are crammed full of extra cots. Everywhere you look, there are people living within a few feet of each other — sprawled out reading, smoking cigarettes or listening to music. And while officials admit jail is not supposed to be a pleasant experience, Sullivan County’s lockup is virtually bursting at the seams. The jail is at, near or even over capacity almost all the time and the problem is at its worst on the weekends. Sullivan County’s jail has a capacity of 321 inmates including the jail annex behind the main facility, according to Chief Jack Sheppard of the Sullivan County Sheriffs Department. However, in February, the jail was overpopulated for seven days, and the jail population has hit 380 in the past six months. Those kinds of numbers have Sullivan County Sheriff Keith Carr worried about an impending overcrowding crisis like the one the county suffered four years ago. And with the “get tough on crime” mentality taking hold on a state level, Carr does not see the jail’s population decreasing anytime soon. The main problem — as Carr and Sheppard see it — is the Tennessee Department of Correction’s lack of bed space for its inmates. Because of overcrowding in the state prison system, many defendants sentenced to prison time by Sullivan County’s judges are serving much of their sentences at the local jail, Carr said. At one point last week, of the jail’s approximately 300 inmates, about 100 of them were actually TDOC prisoners waiting for a bed in the prison system, Carr said. That problem eased slightly when 17 of those inmates were transferred to the state system late last week, but inmate numbers could again soar over the weekend. “Once you are tried, convicted, sentenced and the papers signed, you should be the state’s responsibility,” Carr said. “By 1996, we've been told to expect overcrowding to be as bad if not worse than it was four years ago in the state prisons and the local jails.” Overcrowded conditions put a tremendous strain on corrections officers and sometimes even pose a security risk, Carr said. At one point, the Sullivan County Jail’s maximum-security wing was home to 17 armed robbers at the same time, Carr said, calling it an example of potential problems. And while the entire jail is tottering on the edge of a population crisis, overcrowding is already a fact of life in the women’s cell block. This weekend, 24 women were housed in a facility designed for no more than 20, and the population has climbed as high as 32 in recent weeks, Sheppard said. Plans are in the works to expand the women’s unit at the jail to house more inmates and to allow them to be classified according to their charges, Carr said. Currently, there is no way to separate women charged with violent felonies from women serving time on misdemeanor charges like driving under the influence, Carr said. “Were seeing women charged with armed robbery, murders, dealing drugs. It’s a variety of crime we didn’t see in this area,” Carr said. “But it is being addressed by the (Sullivan County) building committee.” Along with the plans to expand the Sullivan County facility, Carr pointed out that something must be done on the state level. The only way to avert a crisis will be the construction of more state prisons, Carr said. At least one new penitentiary is in the state budget for the coming year, Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist confirmed during a Kingsport appearance Friday to stump for his crime package. Sundquist said dealing with crime is a financial priority for the state and prison construction is part of that plan. “We are not going to have any capital construction next year except for a penitentiary,” Sundquist said. “We have money to expand (the prisons) and to have double celling (two inmates in one cell), We think prisoners shouldn’t be comfortable in prison.” If that occurs, it will sit well with Sullivan County officials, who see more prison construction as the only solution to the crisis. “This is not a Tennessee prison. Tennessee prisoners should be housed in a Tennessee prison,” Carr said of the jail. “My desire is to see the legislators who are talking tough on crime build more prisons.”

Bristol Herald Courier – …At least one new penitentiary is in the state budget for the coming year… If that occurs, it will sit well with Sullivan County officials, who see more prison construction as the only solution to the crisis… Read More

September 29 1997

Sullivan County Needs New Jail

Sullivan County needs a new jail, a grand jury reported after visiting the facility and finding crowded cells, cramped offices and an air-conditioning system that was not working. “As past grand juries have reported, the need for a new Sullivan County jail is blatantly obvious,” the panel said in the report, made public record Thursday at the end of the grand jurors’ six months of service. The grand jury toured the 10-year-old jail June 26 and was told by officers, according to the report, that the air conditioning had been out for days and would not be fixed for a week or longer due to a lack of funding. But the panel interceded, it said. Grand jury foreman Arthur Salyer contacted County Commissioner Eddie Williams and found that emergency funds could be used to fix the system. “We strongly suggest that routine service on the air conditioning be upgraded to prevent such an outage in the future,” the grand jurors said. “One officer reported to us that the inmates were becoming irritable (due to the heat), and there was concern for how their behavior could deteriorate during this time.” A previous grand jury reported crowded conditions, cracked walls and an inoperable fire-alarm system. It said inmates were sleeping on the floor on mattresses because not enough beds were available. Six months later, another panel said the jail remained crowded but that repairs had been made. The report Thursday said the jail needs more office space, more computerization and more cells for inmates of both genders. Despite its problems, the grand jury said it found the facility to be in “good order and clean,” said its personnel “were courteous and helpful” and commented that an inmate gardening program aimed at growing food for meals had saved the county between $25,000 and $30,000 last year.

Bristol Herald Courier – Sullivan County needs a new jail, a grand jury reported after visiting the facility and finding crowded cells, cramped offices and an air-conditioning system that was not working… Read More

July 28 1998

Jail Number has Reached ‘Critical’ Mass

Bristol Herald Courier – Sullivan County’s jail has a capacity of 317 inmates, but on July 19 it reached an all-time high population of 507 — including 56 female inmates housed in a space designed for 20… Read More

January 10 1999

Jail Expansion Long Past Due

Overcrowding is worsening in the Sullivan County Jail, for both male and female prisoners. Continuing overloads caused by state prisoners are aggravating the problem. The sheriff and county commissioners say they don’t see how this can go on. The year is 1999, right? Wrong. It was 1993. Nothing's changed. “We're sitting on a powder keg” County Commissioner Ralph Harr told fellow Building Committee members last week. He warned the commissioners of possible lawsuits because of overcrowding and even of potential inmate uprisings. Harr is exactly right. And the danger is nothing new. The time to do something is now. In November, the Building Committee approved $5 million in bonds to expand the Sullivan County Jail, as well as another $3 million, all or part of which could help build a jail addition. The money is there. The political will, certainly among commissioners who have looked most closely at the need, is there. And now is the time.

Bristol Herald Courier – Overcrowding is worsening in the Sullivan County Jail… The sheriff and county commissioners say they don’t see how this can go on. The year is 1999, right? Wrong. It was 1993. Nothing’s changed… Read More

March 28 1999

Packed in like Sardines

Bristol Herald Courier – …Officials are working to relieve the overcrowded conditions with a jail addition… “It’s not going to stop with whatever we build here,” [Chief Hickman] said. “I think we’re in for a real headache in the next 20 years.”… Read More

March 28 1999

The Sullivan County Jail is Overcrowded

Bristol Herald Courier – Although no photographs of inmates were permitted, the trusties’ cellblock shown above gives ample evidence of the crowded conditions. And this is one of the jail’s least crowded areas.

March 22 2000

Jail Expansion Breaks Ground

Bristol Herald Courier – Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson, left, and County Executive Gil Hodges cut the tape leading to the site of a groundbreaking ceremony for the $6.85 million jail expansion project. Read More

September 10 2000

Crowded Jail

Bristol Herald Courier – The Sullivan County Jail is so crowded at present that inmates must sleep on the floor due to a lack of beds.

September 10 2000

Bursting at the Seams

Bristol Herald Courier – …”We will be at capacity as soon as (the new section) opens,” Anderson said. “If the county would go ahead with this next phase,… they could save money. It’ll cost 10 times as much in 10 years.”Read More

June 24 2001

Sullivan Jail Project Nears the End of its Initial Phase

Bristol Herald Courier – …The county’s construction manager said the project… will lend itself to easily to future expansion…“In the future, I think we’re always going to have this problem,” Anderson said of crowding… Read More

April 7 2002

In a New Jailhouse Now

Bristol Herald Courier – …Anderson said… the addition still wasn’t meeting demand. The jail had 524 prisoners this weekend. Because of the crowded conditions, some of them have to sleep on mattresses on the floor… Read More

February 14 2003

Another Quarter Million $ to Expand Jail Again

Funds to add space for more beds and to fix leaky roof to come from leftover bond proceeds The Sullivan County Commission’s Building Committee has approved spending $250,000 in leftover bond funds to add space for 30 more inmate beds at the county jail and another $100,000 to fix a leaky roof there. “The money's there. I think we ought to do it,” Commissioner Ralph Harr of Bristol said before making a motion to authorize the project. The money comes from $481,000 in leftover bond proceeds issued and earmarked for public buildings - the same bonds that funded most of a recent $6.2 million jail expansion and provided a more than $200,000 local match for the $1 million restoration of the historic Deery Inn. The committee unanimously opted, by a 7-0 vote with one absent, for the 30-bed expansion in the main jail rather than make repairs and renovations to the old jail annex, which Sheriff Wayne Anderson closed recently after two inmates escaped from that minimum-security area. Committee Chairman Eddie Williams and county buildings overseer Claude Smith said 16 new spaces would be made from space currently serving as the salley port — the area where inmates are driven into and out of the jail - and that the other 14 spaces would be added to existing cells. Smith said an outside area near the booking room would be used as a salley port until the next expansion phase of the jail, a project estimated to cost more than $9 million and include a new salley port. Smith said the project should take about six months to complete and that bunks and plumbing fixtures from the annex would be used in the spaces for 30 additional inmates. However, Williams and Harr said the project was a temporary fix and that the jail quickly could become overcrowded if Tennessee continues to leave state inmates - those convicted on state sentences — in the county jail rather than shift them to state prisons. State corrections officials have indicated the state will need 7,000 new prison beds in the next five years - a need Williams and Commissioner Wayne McConnell of Kingsport said they feared would be shifted back to the county even though the county has no contract to house state prisoners. “We're dependent on what the state does,” Williams said. “The state makes you keep the prisoners and tells you how to keep them.” The current rated capacity of the county jail is 353, but it would increase to 383 with the changes the committee approved. Smith said the jail this week had 358 inmates. Officials said the roofing project was needed to replace an aging rubber membrane roof covered with gravel.

Bristol Herald Courier – …The committee unanimously opted… for the 30-bed expansion in the main jail… Harr said the project was a temporary fix and that the jail quickly could become overcrowded if Tennessee continues to leave state inmates… in the county jail. Read More

October 3 2004

Crowd Control

Bristol Herald Courier – …“I’m sleeping on the floor on a mat about an inch thick,” he said. Makeshift beds like Hensley’s dot cell floors. They’re just one problem at a jail that has been overcrowded every day this year since Jan. 15. Read More

October 5 2004

Its Jail Full, Sullivan County Seeking Alternatives

Bristol Herald Courier – …In-jail hearings, day-reporting among programs used to reduce stress on jail… In August, the jail averaged 477 inmates, — significantly more than its capacity of 383. Read More

February 21 2005

Sullivan Still Seeking Jail Solution

Bristol Herald Courier – …“If it’s a situation that’s only going to relieve temporary overcrowding, then I would tell them to look into another situation… They could find themselves overcrowded again in a year.” Read More

April 11 2006

Work Begins on Jail Addition

Construction Begins New Facility will be capable of housing 240 inmates and hopefully solve jail’s overcrowding problem The inmates who slept on floor mats at the Sullivan County jail last night may be sleeping in beds one year from today. Construction began Monday on an addition to the overcrowded facility. BurWil Construction of Bristol will complete the 30,000-square-foot building within 360 days, said Claude Smith, the county ’s construction manager. "I don't believe it’ll take that long,” he said. The building will be 386 feet long and 93 feet wide, and will hold four large bays and one smaller bay to house 240 minimum-to medium-security inmates. Overcrowding has been a problem at the jail for years, according to Maj. Brenda Hensley, jail supervisor. The jail opened in 1987 and was expanded in 2000. There are 383 beds, but the lockup held 618 inmates Monday and 644 last week, Hensley said. She said she is glad county officials have taken action. “They were proactive enough to know that we were having a problem, to know that we were going to have a worse problem,” she said. Overcrowding causes problems among inmates and could eventually result in lawsuits, she said. “There’s a lot of agitation, fights, fussing and that’s harder on our officers ... writing incident reports, having to do disciplinary board hearings. So it’s just more work for everyone.” The Sullivan County Commission issued a $6 million bond last year to pay for the expansion, a new Health Department building and repairs to Sullivan County schools. About $3.1 million of that total was set aside for the jail addition. In January, bids on the expanded facility came in at $3.7 million. The project cost was reduced to $3.4 million when some improvements, including exterior fencing and a car wash, were removed and some of the building materials were changed. In February, the Sullivan County Commission allocated an extra $430,000 for the project. The new price tag includes excavation work already completed, Smith said, along with kitchen furniture and the building itself. But even with the addition, Hensley said overcrowding will continue at the jail and there are no plans to accommodate any more inmates. Still, she is happy just to get a few more inmates off the floors. “We’re tickled to death,” she said. “I wish I was (already) cutting the ribbon.”

Bristol Herald Courier – … But even with the addition, Hensley said overcrowding will continue at the jail and there are no plans to accommodate any more inmates. Read More

March 28 2007

Construction Complete

Bristol Herald Courier

May 11 2007

Jail Annex Open for Operation

Inmates Move Into New Jail Some residents of the Sullivan County jail have a new home - right across the street. A group of inmates was moved into the county’s new jail addition Wednesday evening. The addition will hold 240 minimum- to medium-security inmates, but only 96 prisoners have moved so far, said Capt. Keith Elton of the Sheriff’s Office. Elton said it’s easier to ensure security during such a transfer when it’s done in smaller doses. “It takes a long time getting them in and getting them out and getting their property,” he said. No incidents were reported during the transfer, said Sheriff Wayne Anderson. Other inmates will be moved in a few days, he said. He could not release the date for security reasons. The $3.4 million addition was scheduled to open last week, but construction oversights delayed the inmate transfer. Cell doors lacked “pie holes,” or small slits to pass items to an inmate without opening the door. Sixteen cell doors also had to be refitted, Anderson said. The problems have been corrected, the sheriff said, but a few small projects are yet to be completed. Telephones for the inmates to make calls have not arrived, he said. Although not a necessity, Anderson said each detail contributes to the overall safety and security of the jail. “{Inmates] don’t have to have a telephone, but at the same time, it eases tensions when they can call home,” he said. “We just want to make sure everything is good and safe both for the officers and the inmates.” The phones should arrive Monday, he said. The new addition was built to alleviate overcrowding in the old jail, which has 383 beds but regularly holds more than 500 inmates. The facility has eight large dormitory-style cell blocks. Together, the facilities will cost about $1.2 million each year to operate.

Bristol Herald Courier – …The new addition was built to alleviate overcrowding in the old jail… Together, the facilities will cost about $1.2 million each year to operate… Read More

February 28 2009

Jail Still Overcrowded

The Sullivan County grand jury’s latest report highlights the importance of trusties’ work. Trusties, the grand jury noted, are responsible for the majority of the daily workload at the jail. Upon arrival that day, members of the grand jury saw trusties preparing to spray down the bedding — a maintenance task that reduces disease and infestation. Trusties, they were told, do everything from this type of general maintenance to daily meal preparations and cleanup and more. During the tour of the jail annex, the grand jury noted that trusties also maintain an on-site vegetable garden at the jail in the spring and summer and collect trash along the highway. For each day worked, trusties get one day taken off their jail sentences. Aside from the trusty issue, the grand jury noted that a trip to the kitchen revealed the 21-year-old dishwasher highlighted for replacement by the last grand jury is still chugging away at the inmates’ dishes. All the other kitchen appliances have been replaced within the past two years. The building itself, the grand jury said, was also in need of some updates. A larger booking area would be useful, they said. Slight overcrowding was also noted. Ideally, the main facility and annex can house 643 inmates, the report states. On Jan. 27, there were 656. The main jail held 440 to 450 of those, and 102 of them were women.

Kingsport Times News – … Slight overcrowding was also noted. Ideally, the main facility and annex can house 643 inmates, the report states. On Jan. 27, there were 656. The main jail held 440 to 450 of those, and 102 of them were women. Read More

September 2 2011

County Considers GPS Tracking to Alleviate Overcrowding

Tracking technology may soon help keep some Sullivan County inmates out of jail. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office is looking into the use of GPS tracking bracelets, which could be worn by low-risk offenders to help reduce overcrowding at the Sullivan County jail, Sheriff Wayne Anderson said Thursday, He said that with the recent expansion, the jail holds 623 people. ~ “We've already reached 750, back down to 700, to 680 ...we're averaging 700 inmates a day,” he said of the jail population. : And not all need to be there, he said. “Say you have a 19-year-old [man] who kinda messed up, and he ends up in jail,” he said. “Is that always the best medicine for that person? They learn alot from inmates... about street life, crimes ... that they might not get if they're not locked up, but they need to be punished and follow the rules.” Anderson said the Sheriff's Office started thinking about using tracking bracelets about two years ago, and on Thursday saw a presentation...

Bristol Herald Courier – …He said that with the recent expansion, the jail holds 623 people. “We’ve already reached 750, back down to 700, to 680 …we’re averaging 700 inmates a day,” he said of the jail population. And not all need to be there, he said.

March 24 2012

Build It and They Will Come

Bristol Herald Courier – …We have had to deal with overcrowding for so many years. Every jail in Tennessee is like it… If not, they will be – build it, and they will come… Read More

October 17 2014

Overcrowding: Jail’s biggest hurdle

Bristol Herald Courier – …In September, the Tennessee Corrections Institute recommended decertification of Sullivan County’s jail due to crowding… Read More