|
|
| County jail reaccredited for three years |
| By Sun Herald |
| Published: 08/15/2005 |
|
A thumbs-up from a national accrediting group means the Harrison County, Miss. jail remains a safe place for inmates, staff and the community, officials said. Maj. Diane Gatson-Riley, jail director of operations, returned from Baltimore with the news Monday after meeting with the American Corrections Association. The ACA, which sets national standards for jails and prisons, has reaccredited the Harrison County jail for a three-year period. Auditors who gave the jail top scores in May met with Riley last week to discuss the review before announcing the reaccreditation. "The community should be reassured that we believe in humane treatment regardless of what inmates are charged with and that we are serious about safety, inmate living conditions and quality of life," said Riley. Sheriff George H. Payne Jr. credited Riley and the jail staff with efforts to improve and maintain safety and efficiency since the jail first received accreditation in 2002. Accreditation, he said, also reduces lawsuits. The jail, opened 15 years ago on Aug. 25, 1990, once was considered one of the most dangerous county jails in the country. Harrison County supervisors have been under a federal court order since 1995 to make improvements at the jail. The jail had about two dozen escapes from 1998 to 2000. No jailbreaks have occurred since then because of security improvements. The county also has improved health care and other services. The ACA still has concerns about overcrowding. The jail was built to house 672. Under the court order, the jail can house 760 inmates with "a safe operating capacity," said Riley. The average daily population is close to 1,000. |
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