Grand jurors recommended Lawrence County Jail authorities scrutinize prisoners’ free time, following last month’s tour of the facility.

Monday, February 14, 2000

Grand jurors recommended Lawrence County Jail authorities scrutinize prisoners’ free time, following last month’s tour of the facility.

In a Feb. 1 report, the Lawrence County Grand Jury said "the provisions of law for the regulation of county jails have not been violated."

Jurors examined the jail conditions and asked about discipline and treatment of the prisoners, their habits, diet and accommodations.

"We recommend that the prisoners should be allowed to smoke only in a designated smoking area at specified times and that prisoners not be allowed to possess either cigarettes or cigarette lighters in their jail cells," the jury report stated.

"Also, prisoners should not be afforded television viewing privileges. Further, there is a great need for additional space for the detectives and office staff to work."

Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department jail administrator Brian Deer agreed with the jury’s assessment of the jail’s space problems.

And, to meet their recommendations, more space would be needed, Deer said.

"We’re already struggling to find a visitors’ area and an exercise or recreation room," he said, adding that lighters are not allowed in jail cells.

In fact, those two items were identified by state jail inspectors last year as areas where the jail is deficient in meeting prisoners’ needs.

In a report sent back to inspectors, Deer said the jail’s current size and construction made designated areas impractical, but officials will explore the possibility when a new jail is built.

Changes in television viewing could be made at the jail but the lack of a recreation room makes such changes difficult for the staff, Deer said.

Although television affords a recreational pastime for inmates, "it’s more of a pacifier than anything," he said.

"I’d say there would be 10 times the amount of inmate problems, like fighting, if it weren’t for the TVs," he added.

There is a wall-mounted, 13-inch color TV in each of the jail’s seven inmate areas.

The lack of office space has been a problem that about every department staff person has encountered, but only new or expanded facilities will serve as a remedy, Deer said.

One office is shared by the jail administrator, three sergeants and the department’s chief deputy. Another office is home to three detectives, while the department’s three clerical employees share one office as well.

In the jail, a staff office room is shared by 10 staff members, plus others, Deer said.

Meanwhile, with the help of local community agencies, the jail now offers inmates one other activity besides watching television.

Inmates have access to study materials at the jail that will help them get a General Education Diploma (GED), said Andy Thompson of The Counseling Center.

Thompson sought the study materials after inmates who were clients of the center asked him.

"Some of them had as much as six months at the jail and wanted to work on something productive when they get in there," he said.

Briggs-Lawrence County Public Library officials found, then loaned to the jail, a stack of GED study materials, Thompson said.

Deer arranged to store the materials and agreed to allow inmates access for studying.

"For each one of these inmates we can manage to help get their GED and help become a productive member of society, it’s a good deal for both inmate and the community," Thompson said.

There is no cost for using the study materials and there might be ways to provide financial assistance to inmates for the cost of the GED test as well, he said.