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Cocke County Grand Jury report on the county's jails
A Cocke County Grand Judy which met last week has issued a report on the condition of the counties two jail. Circuit Court Judge Ben Hooper had urged the body to tour the jail and then provide a report of the findings to the Cocke County Legislative Body. Foreman David Hill says the facilities are over crowded with 192 inmates in facilities meant for 88. In the female facility there are no bunk beds and there were inmates EVERYWHERE on the floor. The panel also found the heat in the female facility "suffocating from the heat and breathing in paint fumes." Three clothes dryers have no vents and the heat exhaust is distributed back into the jail. With regard to safety concerns, the panel says exposed electrical wires are everywhere. The jells are not secure, allowing inmates into the hallways, and the staffing is inadequate. The limited surveillance allows for inmates in the recreation yard to become involved in unsupervised conduct, creating safety issues for inmates and security officers. They express concern that if certification of the jail is lost, the county would become self-insured. Drug introduction into the jail is a serious concern and made worse by inmates having access to areas outside of the jail itself. Low salaries of $7.40 an hour for part-time jailers and $9.29 for full-time employees mean an approximate turnover in staff of 125 percent. The report indicates the costs of training jail personnel totals $2,500 per employee. The courtroom personnel are inadequate "creating a substantial risk to court personnel, other inmates and people in attendance." The insufficient facilities mean lost revenue for housing state prisoners.If the facilities were upgraded, the county could house state prisoners and see increased revenue. And if the jail was adequate it could house federal inmates "which would generate additional and much needed revenue for our County." The report says there is inadequate storage space for warrants and records. Members of the grand jury also say there should be a way of obtaining reimbursement for holding inmates arrested by Newport or the Tennessee Highway Patrol to offset funding for the jail." The panel did commend Sheriff Armando Fontes and his staff "for the hard work they do to maintain peace and order with the significantly limited, if not laughable, resources."
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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