OREGON – Understaffing, lack of space, and poor ventilation were some of the problems listed by two experts who inspected the Ogle County Jail last week.
Ogle County Sheriff Greg Beitel said it wasn't surprising that Mark Goldman and Robert Aguirre from the National Institute of Corrections have recommended building a new Ogle County Jail.
"I really wasn't surprised, " Beitel said. "Some of the things they brought up, such as planning for a new jail, I've been advocating for years. I was glad an independent source validated what we thought we needed."
Aguirre and Goldman did a 3-day assessment of the jail, which included an inspection of the facility and interviews with corrections officers, inmates, county officials, and local residents.
"In my opinion, the building is not a long-term player," Goldman said Aug. 27 when he and Aguirre spoke at a meeting held at the sheriff's office.
The two are from the Jails Division of the National Institute of Corrections, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Aguirre said state jail inspectors recommended their assessment, which was done at no cost to the county.
Understaffing was one of the concerns the two raised about the jail. They praised the efforts of the corrections officers.
"Your staff is very dedicated and are doing a good job," Goldman said.
Two to three corrections officers are on duty for each shift, he said, and must cover all jail functions on two floors.
The average daily population of the jail is about 100 inmates, the study showed.
The design of the jail makes direct observation of the inmates difficult, Goldman said, although security cameras help.
"The cameras help, but direct observation and contact is needed," he said.
The jail, which was built in 1969, is adjacent to the Ogle County Courthouse. The site is one of the obstacles to its longevity, Goldman said.
"The limited site poses challenges for parking, recreation, and expansion," he said. "The site is definitely limited for long-term use."
His biggest criticism was the lack of space for normal jail activities and the separation of prisoners from the staff and public.
For example, he said, a wide corridor in the "secure" area of the jail is used for intake of inmates, booking, transportation, and release, and as a space for writing reports.
This creates safety issues in many cases, he said, such as when civilians must go to this area to be finger-printed for their jobs.
"This is like a mini Grand Central Station. There's just too many activities going on in that corridor," Goldman said.
He also pointed out the lack of recreational facilities for both inmates and the jail staff.
Corrections officers also have no break room, he said.
"They're eating their lunch in that corridor," he said.
Goldman said that having recreational facilities for inmates, including outside areas, has been shown to alleviate stress among prisoners in cell blocks and reduce confrontations with corrections officers.
The condition of the building and the lack of maintenance also are issues, Goldman said.
Four maintenance employees take care of all the county's buildings. Some janitorial work can be done by sentenced prisoners, usually called trustees, but the jail houses very few of those, Goldman said.
Mold is growing in some areas of the jail because of the poor ventilation system in the jail, and the plumbing is outdated and rusting, he said.
"Some of the dormitories [cell blocks] are very warm and humid," he said. "There's no ventilation system in the showers. The conditions affect the staff as well as the inmates."
Goldman said that if the problems are not addressed, the jail may no longer meet requirements to house federal prisoners.
Boarding fees paid for housing federal prisoners brings about $1 million a year into the county's coffers, Beitel said.
Aguirre recommended beginning the process of planning for a new jail.
He said adequate planning usually takes at least 5 years. He suggested forming a committee to get started on the project.
He stressed the importance of "mending fences" with federal prison officials after the controversy that arose in 2002 when the county rejected a proposal from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to build a new jail in Oregon.
Goldman and Aguirre recommended the following interim improvements to the jail:
■ Hire a heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialist to improve air flow and reduce mold.
■ Buy sensors and alarms to alert staff to sewer overflows.
■ Study moving beds in dormitories to free up space for recreational activities and programs.
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