IMPRESSIONS FROM A JAIL TOUR by League Members

On Nov. 10 four League members (other League members visited the jail last spring) took a complete tour of the county jail led by Officer Elmore who was very nice and answered all our questions showing us that he had some empathy for the stress the inmates are under due to the terrible conditions.  My strongest impression is “I don’t ever want to be there!”  Other sensory impressions--a lot of officers with lots of big keys on their belts--officers using sharp commands and short sentences firmly but not mean--dirty halls and an unpleasant smell on most floors--lots of code talk such as “B-boy floor”.  We were treated with respect and certainly never felt uncomfortable when riding with inmates and guards in the elevators or passing in hallways.

Everything you may have read or heard about the dismal conditions in the jail is true and worse when you see it in person.  The day we were there the count was 525 inmates in the facility built for 383.  In the segregated halls where inmates are isolated in cells there were people on mats sleeping in what was supposed to be a vestibule at either end of the hall.  Day rooms on other floors where inmates should be able to go to use the phone, take a shower, and have some time away from lock-down were being used to house as many as could fit on mats on the floor and on top of tables.  They try to be careful not to put rival gang members or known enemies together, but the tension from the close quarters and nothing to do would drive most people crazy.      Another floor with capacity for 90 had 128 inmates--many sleeping on floors in the hallway.  Apparently there is only one officer per hall which may have 120-130 inmates.

This is also not the “Hollywood” version of jail with inmates standing in cells facing a large hallway and talking through full length bars on the cells.  The solitary cells are tiny cubicles with a cot, sink and toilet.  The only window is a narrow rectangle of glass we had to stand on a block to see though.  There they are kept on lock down 23 hours a day with nothing to do but sleep or read.  There is also no prison yard where in the movies you see inmates exercising and getting air.  The halls are narrow and dark and somewhat dirty--some sections reminded me of the catacombs.

Not everything is terrible.  There is an exercise room with several pieces of equipment to work out on and  some game tables for chess and checkers for general population inmates.  A dentist comes every Friday, and gives free dental care to all inmates.  There is also a classroom with a few computers where some classes in life skills are taught to those who sign up.  The two new floors have much wider halls and a better feel.  The inmates are in large room with several bunkbeds lined up and space to walk around and tables for games and cable TV. 

Food service is contracted out but some inmates called trustees work in the kitchen and also run the laundry.  Trustees have a less than $10,000 bond, no felony charges, are non-combative and must get a clean bill of health.  They get to wear blue instead of orange and have more space in their living quarters.

There is one floor for females which holds 62.  Officer Elmore said they are seeing more female inmates.

They are proud of their camera room where several big screens can be tuned in to various camera locations throughout the jail.  Inmates in solitary are supposed to be observed every 15 minutes.  The only spaces not subject to camera watch are the toilets and showers.  This system helps make up for the inadequate number of officers. There is also a fancy fingerprinting machine that sends fingerprints to Raleigh immediately.  Once in the system it takes a court order to have your charges and fingerprints removed from the records even if you are found innocent.

For attorney-inmate consultations there are three tiny rooms for the entire population.  Often lawyers have to wait to see their clients, and the inmates are kept in holding cells while waiting for their turn with the attorney.  These are rooms with benches on the walls and a sink and toilet and can have a lot of inmates waiting at one time.