Article published May 26, 1983

Warden Says Past Problems Have Actually Helped Him

WARDEN LARRY POWERS inspects the hand lettering on one of the jail doors. The new lettering on glass doors at the courthouse was done this week by a sign painter serving time in the county facility. (Herald-Journal Photo by Jerry Sudderth)

He seems to take everything in stride - the crises, the 16-hour days, the inevitable politics.

Although he won't be pinned down on it, maybe that ability is what has helped Larry Powers succeed where others have failed.

Powers has been director of the county detention facility (commonly known as warden of the county jail) since April 12, of last year.

At the time he assumed the position the amiable young man became the fourth warden in as many years. In the year before Powers became warden, the jail was the subject of South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and Spartanburg County Grand Jury investigations, primarily regarding cleanliness and security. The facility has been free from such probes during Powers' tenure.

"The problems in the past actually have helped me," Powers says, explaining that he came into the job with some ideas with which, he feels, the county officials went along, just to see whether they would work. Apparently, they have.

Powers hasn't lost his ever-ready smile or his patience, either.

In June, 1981, County Council officially abolished the position as "warden," although the title sticks with Powers. Council created the position of "director of the detention facility" as that of a department head with supervisory powers similar to those of the sheriff. Jailers serve "at the pleasure" of the director, just as deputies serve at the pleasure of the sheriff.

The jail had been plagued with personnel problems, primarily getting and keeping good employees at the relatively low salary offered. The poor public image of the jail and jailers didn't help matters, either, Powers says.

"The employees have readily gone along with the changes I've made. We're fairly stable now, although the wage is still low."

Powers is letting his officers "have some say-so" in the operation of the jail and hopes to expand that policy. Recently, the employees voted to change their working hours.

A policy and procedures manual for jail employees is awaiting the approval of County Administrator Kenneth Westmoreland.

One officer bragged on Powers recently, "The difference is like night and day from now and a year ago. The jail's cleaner. You used to couldn't stand to be down here for the smell. Working conditions are a lot better, too."

Powers' first priority when he came to the jail was to see it cleaned up for the inmates. He didn't think anyone should have to live in the conditions as they were.

He also had state minimum standards for detention facilites with which to contend. To that end, Powers institutied jail clothing, in the form of navy blue or orange jumpsuits and slip-on sandals which double as shower shoes.

"Its something that's been recommended nationwide since 1979, but just recently accomplished here," he explains.

The state's minimum standards require that inmates have clean clothes whether they are provided by inmates relatives or the jail. "It's easier on us to have our own clothes than to wash the inmates' and keep however many pairs of jeans separate."

Jail clothing has helped upgrade security other than in the obvious way of identifying anyone who might try to stray, because there aren't as many outside packages coming into the jail. "It's eliminated the biggest contraband problem because now money is the only thing relatives bring in."

Inmates need money to buy miscellaneous items such as cigarettes or soft drinks from the jail canteen. The small profit made on these items, Powers explains, goes back to the inmates because it is used to buy deodorant and other personal toiletry items the jail is required to furnish.

Jail clothing is not issued to every inmate. If it looks like the prisoner will make bond within a few hours, he is left in a holding cell downstairs. If an inmate is sent to the living quarters upstairs, however, an officer checks his body for bruises or cuts, lice, and contraband.

After the search, the inmate showers and is given a clean towel and clean clothes before being taken to a cell.

As one of the measures to upgrade security, jailers have a checklist to go down as they visually check the cells periodically through their work shift. The officer must note the time and sign the checklist each time he makes a check.

"With Judge (Paul) Moore as administrative judge, we've been able to reduce the number of people staying in the jail in between court terms. Judge Moore moves the people out quickly."

Judge Moore and other judges presiding over criminal court get a "gentle reminder" from Powers in the form of a "jail list" when court begins. The name, charge, attorney, desire to plead "guilty" or "not guilty", and date of arrest for each inmate is listed. Magistrate's Court also receives a copy of this list.

Powers also is much in evidence on the second floor of the courthouse, where court is held, if he has a problem he feels can be settled by a judge, solicitor, or someone from the Clerk of Court's office. He's a frequent visitor to Judge Moore's office.

"One day he's going to put me in my own jail for bothering him so much," Powers jokes. "Really, I try to have good relations without making a pest of myself."

Those in contact with Powers, even the prisoners, are impressed by his willingness to work with others. A former inmate of the jail recently wrote to the newspaper, commending the conditions at the jail, one of numerous facilities in which he has stayed. He noted the changes in the appearance of the facility since a previous stay there before Powers became warden. The inmate wrote, "While I was at the jail the warden treated me as a human being and was nice to me and all prisoners."

The jail has a rated capacity of 96 beds and Powers says it has an average of 100 inmates daily. But 20 to 25 of these prisoners make bond without having to spend the night, so the jail averages sleeping 75 to 80 inmates nightly. This has dropped from 120 to 140 inmates when Powers took over operation.

Powers has accomplished the goal he set for himself for his first year to upgrade the cleanliness of the jail for the inmates.

The goal he's set for his second year is to upgrade the positions and training of his officers.

"I want the officers to work together as a team and I think they're doing that. I'm no better than the people who work with me."

The jail is at full staff now with eight officers each on the first and second shifts and six on the third. Even at full staff, there is a shortage of personnel when days off, training at the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy, sick leave and vacation days are considered.

"We have enough jailers right now to get by," Powers says, but he'd like to be able to do more than just "get by."

The jail had a 1982-83 budget of $544,375 of which $380,917 was for salaries. Powers has asked County Council for an increase in salaries in the 1983-84 budget.

He thinks a salary increase would help the officers' morale as much as their pocketbooks, although morale is much higher than it was a year ago. "I want them to be proud. Their job has has a lot of responsibility and as they realize that and the public realizes that, I think the image of the past will go away."

To that end, Powers plans in-service training for his officers in the coming year. "We have to look out for the health of inmates, security, crimes committed in jail - because we do have some - and suicides. There are a lot of things that we cover that the officers need training in." The jailers already are trained in cardiopulmonary resusitation and first aid, and Powers plans firearms training for them. They have started fire training, since the jailers are responsible for evacuating the prisoners in case of fire. Other areas in which Powers hopes to arrange for training are use of force and community relations with inmates.

Powers is trying to get a medical program accredited by the American Medical Association. The jail has two staff nurses and a doctor who makes regular visits, which is required for a facility of its size. He has applied for the accreditation to help provide for the inmates and to help the jail if it should be involved in a civil suit involving health care, an ever-present concern of wardens these days.

Talk of a joint law enforcement facility with a new jail brightens Powers' eyes, but, he says, realistically, "It would be nice to have a new facility, but we can make this one work as long as everybody continues to work together."

The young warden often puts in 14 to 16 hour days, something his wife, Phyllis sometimes doesn't understand. He attempts to explain his situation to her and his stepdaughter with the same enthusiasm with which he attacks all his other problems.

Powers hopes he won't be accused of pampering prisoners at the jail, but if he is, he invites his critics to visit the facility. "If people come down here, they'll know it's not a luxury hotel. it's not the big rooms with color TVs you see in the movies or on TV."