Escapes a black eye on jail

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Escapes a black eye on jail

Opinions

Saturday, 20 March 2010 01:18

Let’s hope the $4 million emergency allocation the Osceola County Commission made Wednesday to shore up security at the county jail does the trick, following two escapes so far this year, with one of the escapees still on the lam.
It’s humorous to hear the latest escapee, who was recaptured Wednesday, say that it was “easy to break out” of the facility by getting to the roof of one of the buildings and then jumping over a fence.
Residents in the neighborhoods around the jail aren’t laughing. They are the ones at risk from escapees who might turn to violence in order to get away and they are the ones receiving the reverse 911 calls.
County officials Wednesday also said they may have made a mistake when they laid off employees at Animal Control, substituting prisoners as animal caretakers. In hindsight, the layoffs were not a good move, given the extra security needed and the cost involved in transporting prisoners to the facility and then the resources expended watching over them.
The emergency allocation will pay for additional razor wire along the jail fences, cameras and recording equipment. The commission also expedited buying an X-ray machine for the front entrance, to screen for contraband coming into the jail. Also, a guard tower will be staffed full-time.
The number of jail staff found in violation of some policy leading up to the escapes is now at 26, with more than 50 percent of them facing termination. If we spend this $4 million on the jail and shore up security lapses in terms of buildings, equipment and staff, and escapes continue, then heads at the top surely should roll.
What is distressing is that even with immediate improvements in the security procedures at the jail, County Sheriff Bob Hansell – after reviewing proposed changes – apparently isn’t convinced it is enough, given that deputies will be assigned to watch over the facility from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The sheriff has said the extra security will continue until he determines corrections officials can adequately provide security to ensure the safety of the community. That sounds like a good move.