Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County's jail in distress

The Nevada County Jail has

again failed inspection and this

time the county is on probation

with orders to correct at

least some of the deficiencies.

The issue was discussed

briefly during the October

meeting of the Nevada County

Quorum Court with no action

taken pending the first of 2009

when Nevada County Sheriff-

Elect Danny Martin takes

office.

Correspondence from the

state indicates that another

inspection will be done six

months from the original

September inspection, and that

the county has until that time to

correct the problems.

If the jail is not in compliance

with Jail Standards after

the re-inspection, the committee

may ask the Attorney

Generals Office to take court

action to seek a remedy for the

jail, according to the letter from the state. The options available to

the Attorney General include closing the jail.

NC Sheriff Bobby Carlton said in a telephone interview this

week that the jail has failed the annual inspections conducted by the

state for many years. A letter from the state Department of Finance

and Administration offices Criminal Detention Facilities Review

Committee to Nevada County Judge Baker Butler indicated seven

major problem areas. Those include the fact that there is insufficient

staff, insufficient exercise areas, insufficient separation for several

classes of inmates, no observation or alcohol units and insufficient

kitchen space. A note under general deficiencies indicates that the

jail is far too small to cope with the countys growing inmate population.

Carlton presented the county with a list of possible remedies to

some of the deficiencies, including the option of hiring three new

jailers.

Carlton said he has stopped housing female inmates because the

facility could not meet the requirements to have the females out of

sight and hearing of the general population.

During the quorum court member, NC Justice of the Peace Mike

Otwell said the standards require only out of sight or out of hearing,

but not both.

Carlton said Monday that his understanding was that both must

be maintained. The jail report indicates that the facility must provide

complete separation of females from the area where males are

confined.

Carlton said he has simply stopped housing females, but said

that also creates some problems. Those housed in other counties

cost Nevada County $75 to $90 per day. Those counties also wont

accept a female with health issues, meaning that the county has to

either approach a judge about releasing the inmate or search for

another county willing to immediately take custody.

Carltons letter indicates that he has also lowered the inmate

population in order to comply with some additional areas.