Weekend inmates enjoy amenities at makeshift jail

It's a makeshift replacement, but those most affected say it's better than the real thing. Weekend inmates, who were forced to serve their time in a county warehouse because of overcrowded conditions in the Spartanburg County jail, said the first night in the would-be jail was cooler, less restrictive and "just a whole lot better," than time in the crowded jail building.

Overcrowding in the county jail - 130 inmates in a jail with a capacity of 82 - prompted Jail Director Larry Powers Friday to declare a state of emergency. With the jail filled to the brim, and the Spartanburg City Jail holding 51 additional county inmates under a contract to handle the county jail overflow, Powers had no choice but to find additional space for about 40 inmates sentenced to weekend jail time for minor offenses.

County workers moved cots and portable toilets into the county warehouse across the street from the jail - formerly the Sullivan Hardware Building - as a makeshift dormitory for the inmates. But after the first night in the warehouse, the inmates didn't seem to mind.

"It was definitely better than over there," said Phil Parris pointing to the jail building across the street. "For one thing, it was about 15 degrees cooler. You have more freedom to get up and walk around. And here, at least you get a bunk; you don't have to sleep on the floor," said the Inman man serving a one-weekend sentence for driving under the influence.

"Once they fix this up, it will be a whole lot better for offenders like us," said Ronald Lyda, also serving one weekend for DUI. "It's a whole lot safer than putting us in the lock up with more harsh criminals."

Jail officials report no serious problems housing the weekend inmates in the warehouse Friday. Lt. Martin Kimmons, second shift supervisor of detention officers, said there was a little initial confusion in the first-time program. Logistical problems of getting the inmates registered then transferred across the four-lane street took some time, but he says things went relatively smoothly Friday. "Most of these weekenders will cooperate and do what you tell them to do," he said. "But even when families get together there can be some problems. Everybody's happy to see each other at first, but after a few hours they can start to get on each other's nerves. You have to keep an eye on them."

Kimmons said that staffing the jail and the temporary weekend facility has stretched his staff short. Vacation and training schedules may worsen the problem in coming weeks, he said. He said it is unlikely that the problem will be resolved before then.

Also, county officials soon may be looking for another location to house the weekend inmates. Renovation work on the warehouse is expected to begin in early September, as the county builds cells for about 100 inmates and weekenders to relieve jail overcrowding. The work should be completed by early 1991 and is expected to relieve overcrowding until a new $15 million county jail can be built.