Jefferson County?s jail ?building tyrants?

To the editor:

I would like to make a few statements about the current jail in Fairfield, Iowa.

Last summer I was arrested and placed in the jail on Grimes Avenue. I had made a statement that was considered to be false witness. The officers came to my door, interrogated me, put me in handcuffs and carted me off. I spent the night there.

I could not breathe in that jail cell and because there are no windows except to the little room that had the television in it I did not know if it was night or day. I have never been more hysterical than when I was in there for no more than a matter of twelve hours. I banged on every surface I could find to no avail. I was completely out of control.

My mother came to get me. It was Saturday. She posted bail and took me home. I do not know how my lawyer got me out of trouble but he did and I am thankful for that. I came away with little more than a fine.

However, I have never seen more than torture in that jail. So many people have gone there, been put in restraints and left there to die in restraints. This has got to stop. There is something inherently wrong with the jail as it stands. Even the police officers do not like this jail.

I have a friend that her husband worked on the foundation of the jail. He is an alcoholic and after he completed his job fell even further into alcoholism. She told me that the jail was designed to have no windows. At least later on, windows were put in to the outside but not for the cells.

I was going to take pictures of the jail as it was being built. I thought there was something peculiar about the structure. I never did take pictures of the construction of the jail and I regret that.

I suggest the city council look into the dissolution of this jail and gather funds to build another one. I suggest the jail remain standing until a new jail can be built.

Perhaps funds can be gathered from the federal and state governments. I do not know how this is done. I do not think the city alone can afford this new jail. The justification? The jail is building petty tyrants, not only with the prisoners but the guards as well.

? Veblen Makrides, Fairfield