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| Outside agency must investigate jail |
| By newsleader.com |
| Published: 08/06/2015 |
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After last week’s News Leader story on inmate complaints about conditions at Middle River Regional Jail, we called for an investigation. How, we asked, is the public to know if these allegations have merit or not? We still contend that an outside investigation is necessary. We were wrong to suggest that the state Department of Corrections look into the allegations. This week, state officials explained to us that while DOC does receive inmate complaints and forwards them to the jails in question, neither it nor the state Board of Corrections have authority to investigate allegations or tell local superintendents how to run their jails. The department performs annual inspections and triennial audits of local jails. Based on those findings, the board grants state certification to local jails. The state health department and local fire marshal also perform annual inspections. State officials tell us that Middle River is up-to-date with audits, inspections and certifications. But complaining to DOC, as 20 Middle River inmates did in a July 5 letter, may not get anyone anywhere. Perhaps a jail addresses the concerns, perhaps not. There is no state oversight. The bureaucracy has a big hole. Some might celebrate that. In this case, we find it concerning. Read More. |
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