Temporary inmate housing requested

Inmate overcrowding is continuing to cause problems at the Spartanburg County jail, prompting the jail director to urge the County Council to obtain temporary inmate housing. It was the second time in as many months that the council was approached about the growing problems at the jail and the need for temporary housing.

Though county officials are considering building a new jail, projected to cost about $16.8 million, jail Director Larry Powers said the existing jail cannot meet county needs during the three years it will take to build a new jail. Powers said there have been 40 incidents such as fights and disciplinary problems involving inmates since July, many of which are attributable to the overcrowding problems.

Despite efforts by magistrates and court officials to quickly set bond and release suspects, the jail population continues to grow. Because most non-violent criminals are being released on bond, Powers said those remaining in jail are more likely to cause management problems.

"We are definitely seeing a more aggressive inmate than we have in the past," Powers said, adding that the overcrowding makes it harder to segregate dangerous inmates.

As of noon yesterday, there were 125 county inmates housed in the jail along with 22 state trusties, Powers said. Forty-four county inmates were being housed at the Spartanburg City jail under a contractual agreement. The county jail is not supposed to house more than 82 inmates under state Department of Corrections standards.

Powers said the county will need another 100 jail beds on a temporary basis, and that may not handle the jail overcrowding during the three-year construction period.

County Administrator Ken Westmoreland said county officials have been looking at temporary inmate housing alternatives including using portable cells manufactured by a Greenville company. All the alternatives, however, are expensive, he said. The temporary cells, similar to modular homes, cost about $100,000 per unit and house 12 to 15 inmates.