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Last updated on Wednesday, July 26, 2017
(BEDFORD) - Sheriff Mike Branham presented the commissioners with some jail numbers that got the attention of the Lawrence County Commissioners and those attending the commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.
Sheriff Branham shared the same numbers with the judicial review committee.
In the second quarter of 2017 the jail booked in 553 inmates. That number increased by 112 in the second quarter of 2016.
In the second quarter of 2017 the number of females booked into the jail was 165. That number was down by 49 for the second quarter of 2016.
Felony arrests were up by 79 in the second quarter of 2017 with a total of 327.
The average daily inmate population for the past six years has been 133. That number for just the second quarter of 2017 was 160.
Sheriff Branham also shared the jail inspection report.
Some of the items listed for improvements included the lighting in the cell blocks.
A new LED lighting system was installed in the jail in August of 2016. The project cost around $10,000. But inspectors say the lighting is not bright enough so Sheriff Branham is having new larger watt bulbs installed.
The inspector wants the jail to be inspected by the Lawrence County Health Department. Sheriff Branham has repeatedly asked the Health Department to do an inspection both verbally and through letters, but has gotten no response.
"They have come in and inspected the kitchen area, but the jail inspector wants the entire jail to be inspected," Branham says.
The Commissioners voted to draft a letter to the Health Department to conduct that inspection.
Other items listed that need improvements include:
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