The new Stoddard County Jail is nearing completion and is scheduled to be populated on April 4.
The Stoddard County Sheriff's Department conducted tours of the new facility to allow the public to view the new facility. Two years of construction is nearing completion on the facility, made possible by a tax approved by voters.
Chief Deputy Andy Holden started the tour in the new sally port. The sally port features an entrance at each end. This will allow a deputy to drive in on one side and out the other. Holden said this is a secure enclosed area where an inmate will be brought in. The sally port also has a maintenance for the department's 26 fleet vehicles.
“We've got 26 fleet vehicles and maintenance on those 26 vehicles was just unreal, what oil changes, brake jobs, what maintenance we do on them,” said Holden. “So we decided to turn this into a maintenance bay. We have been working in here since January. The first month we actually had this operational,the maintenance cost we saved, we saved $5,000.”
Holden said a prime example was a vehicle in the fleet that has transmission lines leaking and a condenser coil. He said the last vehicle taken to a mechanic with this problem cost about $800. Holden said they did this repair in house for less than $100.
From the sally port inmate will go to the booking area just inside the door from the sally port. Located in this area is four temporary holding cells. Holden said these cells can used for inmates that will not be at the facility long. For example if the inmate will be transferred to another facility. Holden said these cells can also be used to isolate an inmate from the rest of the prison population. This could be done if the inmate has committed a violation of the rules or he or she is sick. Hold said if the inmate has COVID-19 or the flu for example they can brought here until they are well so other individuals in the jail do not become ill.
“We have got corrections officer, we've got dispatchers, we've got deputies, we've got transport people. It takes more corrections officer than any other department within the sheriff's office,” said Holden. “We hired six people this year just to fill the extra space its going to take to run this facility.”
Holden said the facility cannot be run with less than three people. "Someone must be in the control room 24 hours a day. Someone must be be in booking 24/7. An officer is also needed to escort inmates where they need to go.”
Also in this area is three padded cells that can be used if there is a danger on a inmate harming themselves. All doors in the facility can be locked or unlocked electronically by computer. Holden said in the event of a power outage or computer malfunction they can be opened with keys. The facility has a backup generator and emergency lighting.
Additionally in this area of the facility is a shower. Holden said the inmates will be required to shower when they enter the facility before changing into the jail issued clothing required in the facility. The clothes they wore into the facility are then laundered and placed in a mesh bag that is hung in a laundry room until time to return them to the inmate.
Holden said in the old facility they only had a residential washer and dryer which had to run constantly. The new facility has two industrial washers and two industrial dryers.
Holden said in the old facility neither of these things were possible.
The facility has a indoor storage room for dry and canned goods. Prior to this Holden said there was a shed outside the facility where these items were kept. The kitchen features two walk in coolers and new industrial appliances. Holden said three meals a day must be prepared for 65 to 80 inmates a day depending on the number housed at the facility. The kitchen also has a new restaurant quality dish washer. Holden said dishes were done by hand before.
A medical room was installed in the new facility. Prior to the installation of a medical room the sheriff's department had to take inmates to a clinic or emergency room. Medical care will now be provided in house. The department is looking to hire a nurse as well as working on a deal for Southeast Hospital to have a doctor assess an inmate via video call with Telehealth. With medical care in house deputies will be freed up to remain on patrol and answer calls. Holden said a lot of times when an inmate is taken to a doctor the inmate will call a family member or friend before. He said the inmate will have the individual go to the doctor's office before they arrive and plant an item such as cigarets in the bathroom. The inmate will then make a trip to the bathroom and retrieve the item. Holden said this will prevent this from happening.
A four pod visitor's room is in the new facility as well. Each pod has glass to divide the visitor from the inmate. Holden said face to face visits with the general public have not taken place since the COVID-19 pandemic began. He said law enforcement agencies, lawyers and government agencies still come in for face to face meetings. Holden said an individual would need to schedule a visit. He said a video visit is available from the visitation area. A video call box is located in the visitation area and in each pod. A FaceTime visit can be done from home but a charge will apply, a face time visit in the facility will be free. Holden did not say when face to face visits with the general public will resume.
A video arraignment room will also be available if a judge wishes to use it rather than bring a inmate to the courtroom.
The cell block where inmates will be housed features a dormitory style pod, two 20 person pods and one 24 person cell pod and a control room. The dormitory pod will have multiple bunk beds and will house the inmates that Holden said do not cause trouble. The trustees will also be housed in this pod. The trustees are the inmates permitted to leave the cell block to assist with task such as meal preparation and laundry.
The other pods feature two person cells and a day room. Each pod has two showers. All inmates will temporarily be moved into the pods in April. The old jail will then be remodeled to match the cell block in the new facility. After the remodel the female inmates will be moved back to the original jail. The female inmates will be housed in a separate pod from the male inmates in the new facility. Jail staff can speak to inmates from the control room through speakers and issue directions without entering the pod.
A recreation room is available as well. The room will allow inmates to walk and get some exercise. Holden said they are looking to hold some church services in this room as well.
“All we can do is say thank you to the citizens who voted this in,” said Holden. “Thanks to the citizens who voted on this is all we can say.”