A report released Tuesday showed the Garland County Detention Center was in total compliance with state jail standards during an Aug. 10 audit, a review Sheriff Mike McCormick said validates the time and resources put into the $42 million project.
"We weren't expecting anything less, but we're excited to see it in writing from an unbiased state agency," he said. "It's a milestone, something we've been working toward for years.
"The county's residents spent millions of dollars on the facility. Now there's something concrete as to not only the reality that it's being operated in a very professional manner, but also that the community is starting to see some positive results."
The beneficial effect McCormick alluded to is referenced in the report prepared by the Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committee, an arm of the Department of Finance and Administration that annually audits county and city detention centers.
"The Garland County Detention Center should be commended on the inmate training programs offered in the facility," the report said. "These programs are not only positive for inmates, but also the Garland County community."
The personal enrichment initiatives include a GED program, a ServSafe certification program that qualifies inmates to work in restaurants and a 12-week substance abuse program in which McCormick said 16 inmates are currently enrolled.
"The key to the success of the facility is the tremendous staff we have on board," McCormick said. "I attribute it to Chief (Deputy of Corrections Mark) Chamberlain and his support staff and deputies."
The committee's surprise inspection checked for compliance with 15 categories of minimum standards the state updated last year. Facilities are required to have written policies for emergency situations, inmate searches, inmate health care, control of door keys and the use of firearms and other security devices.
Security standards require hourly inmate checks and having female deputies supervise female inmates. Commission coordinator Sterling Penix said the panel can recommend closure or modification of operational status for deficient facilities.
Book-in facility, 24-hour facility, short-term facility and long-term facility are the four operational categories, the latter of which describes the Garland County Detention Center.
Penix said the committee allows detention centers time to improve deficiencies but can refer uncooperative ones to the attorney general's office, which can request a shutdown order that's subject to judicial review.
"That's the last option," he said. "The committee wants to be a good partner. If there's a difficulty, we try to work our way through it."
McCormick said he called Justice Solutions, the software provider for the sheriff's department's content management system, last month to ensure the online inmate roster reflects inmate discharges in real time.
The facility housed 281 inmates during the Aug. 10 inspection, but the sheriff's department website showed the population had swelled to more than 370 the following week. McCormick said it was an inaccurate count caused by the software not removing inmates from the roster after they had been released.
"The provider said there was a quirk or glitch in the system," he said. "It had happened from time to time in the past. They've assured us it's fixed once and for all. It should be real time, generating bookings right away and deleting inmates who've been discharged.
"(The inmate count) should be hovering right around 300."
The website showed a count of 298 Wednesday. Current staff levels can accommodate up to 346 inmates.
Local on 09/04/2015