Inspector recommends two changes for county jail

LACEY JACOBS

Ledger staff writer

Following an annual jail inspection conducted in January, the state?s chief jail inspector has made two recommendations for the Jefferson County Jail.

In a letter to Jefferson County officials, the inspector noted several jail cameras and/or monitors need to be replaced, the non-slip surface in the shower is pealing and several doors and window frames are rusting.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jerry Droz said the cameras are a problem his office has been aware of, but there hasn?t been enough money in the budget to purchase new equipment. Some of the cameras were transferred from the old jail to the new building when the law center opened in 2000 and are becoming a little blurry, Droz said.

His office requested funding for the equipment during the last two fiscal years, but did not make a request this year because of budget cuts.

The problems with the shower surface and door and window frames will be remedied during yearly scheduled maintenance.

Droz said the doors and windows have been rusting from the inside out for several years. It has been discovered the frames were filled with the wrong material, and the county attorney?s office is looking into the possibility of litigation.

The door and window frames are routinely sanded down and painted each year to remain in compliance with Iowa Code, Droz said.

For the complete article, see the Wednesday, February 25, 2009, Fairfield Ledger.