BEDFORD – The jail population at the Lawrence County Jail is on the rise.
Reported there were 135 inmates housed at the jail, of which 111 are males, 24 females, 11 Department of Correction holds, three parole holds, and 17 Level 6 felons.
“On January 3, 2023, when I first addressed the commissioners as sheriff there were 83 total inmates housed in the jail,” added Sheriff Day. “That number has increased by 63 percent, 53 more than on that date. The increase means more wear and tear. Maintenance has been working on repairs on the elevator, sallyport door, and exit and entrance doors.”
The Department of Corrections has changed its transport arrangements.
“It’s not working very well,” added Sheriff Day. “Half of the DOC prisons were sentenced last week. But it is now taking longer to get prisons transported to DOC. We are not the only ones having this issue. Sheriffs around the state are also facing the same problem.”
Security improvements are underway at Courthouse Plaza.
All of the security cameras at Courthouse Plaza will be updated. ITS will do the work at a cost of $12,625 which the sheriff has in his budget. He also will use $11,920 from his budget to have T&G change the entrances at Courthouse Plaza and construct a security office.
The construction has been completed of a security officer by using part of the Public Defenders office and the security center was moved behind the entrance of the voter registration office.
“IT still has to do the set up of the cameras and security computers and there is still some painting to do,” said Sheriff Day.
Sheriff Day also requested permission to apply for a $70,000 COVID grant.
“The funds if granted must be used before July 2024. They are pushing for local jails to apply. The funds can be used for equipment to help prevent the spread of COVID and new variants of the virus and upgrade medical equipment.”
Sheriff Day said he will use the money to upgrade medical equipment, purchase a laptop computer for the nurse and a desk computer for medical records, a new industrial matching machine, and a transport vehicle.
