|
|
| Overcrowded jail might face suit |
| By Cincinnatti Post |
| Published: 05/02/2005 |
|
A lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of Campbell County (Ohio) Detention Center inmates who say the jail is too crowded could open the door for a similar lawsuit in Kenton County. Both Kenton and Campbell counties have grappled with the issue of too many inmates and not enough space, but it was Campbell County that was sued last week in U.S. District Court in Covington. Twenty-seven inmates claim the condition at the Newport jail is in violation of their constitutional rights and are seeking a cap on the number of inmates allowed in the facility. Yet Kenton County's jail in Covington is often overcrowded as well. It's not supposed to house more than 384 inmates, but it isn't unusual for the jail to have an additional 100 inmates. Still, Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson said he doesn't think his county's situation is as serious as Campbell County's. "I don't think we're in as bad of shape," he said. "We're not that crowded. We are overcrowded." He said 90 beds were added to the facility last year to increase capacity. "We're in a better position in terms of any overcrowding issues than we were," Edmondson said. He added that to find the inmates' constitutional rights were violated, their attorney must prove the overcrowding led to improper food and medical care. Campbell County Jailer Greg Buckler said he is meeting inmates' basic needs. The inmates' attorney, Robert Newman, said he could prove the effects of overcrowding are harmful to the inmates' health. Newman said 23 and 24 people inhabit 12-person dorms, inmates are sleeping on the floor and the smells are foul. The lawsuit states that inmate population has recently been as high as 276 - double the recommended 135-person capacity. According to the suit: "As a consequence of the literal pressing of bodies on bodies in the 'dormitory' rooms, human odors permeate the rooms, the noise level during waking hours is offensive, sleeping at night is intermittent, tensions are raised and violent outbursts are frequent." Buckler has been vocal in the past year about overcrowding issues at the jail. He and other jailers are pushing the state to move state prisoners out of the jails more quickly. Last June, the jail was holding 125 more inmates than its recommended capacity when an inmate and guard became involved in a scuffle. Buckler moved about 30 inmates to other lock-ups - a move that costs the county about $25 a day, plus medical care and transportation costs. Campbell County has plans to build a $4 million, 276-person facility at a site between the district court and juvenile detention center in Newport. The design is almost complete. Buckler said county officials would then decide when to begin construction. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think