Jail overflow brings 'state of emergency'

Spartanburg County's jail inmate population continues to outpace efforts to ease overcrowding, leading jail Director Larry Powers to declare a "state of emergency" yesterday - and find a temporary solution.

Powers yesterday opened the former Sullivan Hardware building, which sits across the street from the existing jail on Daniel Morgan Avenue. It was an early initiation for the building that county officials hope will solve their jail crowding problem until a new lockup can be built. The county warehouse will be used this weekend as a makeshift jail to house the nearly 100 people sentenced to weekend jail time, Powers said. The weekend inmates began their time at 6 p.m. yesterday and will serve until 6 p.m. tomorrow. The warehouse is slated for renovation and is planned as a temporary jail facility beginning in early 1991. Once completed, it will be used to house about 100 inmates plus weekenders in four dormitory-like cells until a proposed new $15 million jail is constructed. Jail architects are expected to present construction plans for conversion of the warehouse into a temporary facility next week. County Administrator Roland Windham also will discuss the status of the acquisition of California Avenue property, the targeted site for the new jail, at the County Council meeting Wednesday.

Powers said yesterday's declaration was a last-ditch effort to assure the already overcrowded jail will remain as safe as possible, while complying with court orders. The move came not a moment too soon; perhaps a little late. Powers said he was forced to send 48 weekenders home last week because there was no room in the jail, a move he feels is both unfair to the inmates and to the sentencing judges.

"I needed to (open the warehouse) in fairness to the people sentenced to weekend; they need to complete their sentences as quickly as possible," he said. "Also, the judge has sentenced them to weekends and we have to comply with his instructions. "It's a good faith effort to adhere to the sentences that the court passes out." It's also a good faith effort to get a strong grip on an on-going problem.

Jail capacity, according to state regulations, is set at 82, a number surpassed early this week. Yesterday, however, there were 130 inmates in the county jail and 51 county inmates being held at the Spartanburg City Jail, Powers said. Eighty-eight people sentenced to weekend jail time were expected to report to the county jail at 6 p.m. yesterday, which would send the jail population soaring to 218, excluding those housed at the city. Usually, only 20 to 25 people show up for weekend jail time, but Powers said he's preparing for a high turnout like last weekend, which was highest so far. "Because of the overcrowding, I feel like it's a danger" to keep adding inmates, Powers said. "And I can't keep sending them home." "What we've tried to do is comply with the standards as much as possible," Powers said. Adhering to the instructions of a county fire inspector, Powers installed six smoke detectors and three fire extinguishers - one more than is required - and an air horn to wake inmates in case of a fire or other emergency. All exit doors must be left open, according to the fire code, Powers said. Needn't worry, however. "There's always that possibility of somebody walking off, but they're coming in on their own," Powers said. "The courts have determined they're non-serious offenders." Besides, Powers said, if anyone tries to escape while serving a fairly light sentence, a warrant for their arrest undoubtedly will land them behind bars - real bars.

A detention officer, who will have communication with other jail personnel, will man the warehouse. Jail employees spent most of yesterday morning buying the necessary goods to make the transition a smooth one and moving storage items to one side of the open building, clearing space for beds. Portable toilets and potable water will be used at the warehouse, which is void of running water. Two at a time, the inmates will be taken to the county jail facility for showers. Meals, which will be eaten at tables already set up, will be brought to them from the kitchen at the county jail. Plans to buy extra cots at the state surplus store were in the works yesterday afternoon. Ten beds already available lined the walls of the big, open warehouse; others needed assembling. Powers said he plans to have up to 50 beds available for the weekenders, who will work as trash collectors today and tomorrow.

Powers said he hopes the transfer of weekenders to the warehouse is only a temporary solution. "Hopefully, this is only a temporary measure, and by working with court officials we'll be able to get a number of individuals moved through the system, transferred or released on probation," Powers said.