Most inmates forced to relocate from Vance Co. jail due to understaffing, unsafe conditions
BUY HOMES LIKE THIS IN RALEIGH.
SHAUN GALLAGHER, WRAL NEWS.
>> TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO
RELOCATE MORE THAN 100 INMATES
FROM THE VANCE COUNTY JAIL.
IT COMES AFTER THE STATE FOUND
LOCKS THAT DON'T WORK UNDER
STAFFING AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
WRAL'S DESTINY. PATTERSON
EXPLAINS WHY THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE ISN'T GOING TO MEET THIS
DEADLINE.
IT'S A DIFFICULT TASK
RELOCATING MOST OF THE INMATES
IN THIS JAIL FOLLOWS MONTHS
OF VISITS YEAR WHERE STATE
OFFICIALS SAY THEY FOUND CELLS
THAT DID NOT LOCK OR WORK
PROPERLY. FIRE ALARM ISSUES
MULTIPLE OUT OF SERVICE,
SECURITY CAMERAS IN DETENTION
OFFICERS DELIVERING CONTRABAND
TO INMATES. THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SAID
THE COUNTY THIS LETTER, THE
FIRST OF ITS KIND IN AT LEAST
A DECADE IN ORDERS, THE COUNTY
TO REDUCE ITS JAIL CAPACITY
FROM 148 INMATES TO 20.
>> THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY'RE
STILL 90 INMATES IN THE U.S..
I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
SHERIFF FOR INTERVIEWS. THEY
WEREN'T AVAILABLE IN A
STATEMENT THE DEPARTMENT SAID
THIS IS NOT A NORMAL
OCCURRENCE, BUT ONE THAT IS
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY
OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE VANCE
COUNTY JAIL BY TEXT. SHERIFF
GRAHAM TOLD ME SOME COUNTIES
HAVE AGREED TO HOUSE SOME
INMATES. OTHERS HAVE DECLINED
FOR VARIOUS REASONS. I RESPECT
NASH COUNTY SHERIFF KEITH STONE
SAYS HE WANTED TO HELP BUT
THEIR FACILITY
IS FULL A NATIONWIDE TREND AS
MORE VIOLENCE IS INDUSTRY.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT A
POPULAR DECISION, BUT IT OPENS
TO THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THESE
PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND
YOU'VE GOT INVESTED, SECURE
SAVINGS, INADEQUATE STAFFING
AND ANNE'S COUNTY ALSO RAISE
CONCERNS FROM THE STATE.
ACCORDING TO THE LETTER, THE
FACILITY ONLY HAD 9 DETENTION
OFFICERS TO OVERSEE THE NEARLY
150 INMATES
>> WRAL FIRST COVERED PROBLEMS
WITH SECURITY AT THE JAIL MORE
THAN 2 YEARS AGO WHEN THIS
VIDEO SURFACED. 6 INMATES WERE
ABLE TO GET A CELL PHONE INTO
THE JAIL AND POST THE VIDEO
ONLINE AT THE TIME. SHERIFF
GRAHAM CALLS FOR A BETTER
SECURITY SYSTEM AND A NEW JAIL
TO BE BUILT. A LOT OF THESE
JAILS AND PRISONS
WERE BUILT IN TIMES OF ALL
FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS. THE
SHERIFF TELLS ME THAT HE AND
HIS STAFF ARE TAKING EVERY
EFFORT TO COMPLY WITH THE
STATE'S ORDER. THE STATE NOW
REQUIRES A WEEKLY REPORT FROM
THE FACILITY DESTINY.
PATTERSON, WRAL, NEWS, VANS
COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ARE ALSO CONSIDERING BOTH