Orange County NC Website
tyv <br /> A representative of the State Health Director read a portion of the letter written to the <br /> Board of Health. <br /> The County Commissioners commended the Health Department and the Board of <br /> Health for the accreditation. <br /> o . Jail Inspection Report <br /> The Board considered receiving the jail inspection report for July 11, 2008 from the <br /> North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. <br /> Chair Jacobs.pointed out the Sheriffs response to the jail inspection report. He said <br /> that the County Commissioners hold Sheriff Pendergrass in the highest regard and consider <br /> him their expert on matters of public safety. He said that, instead of putting this on the consent <br /> agenda, the County Commissioners decided it would be better for the Sheriff to have an <br /> opportunity to respond to the report and make any suggestions for change in the future. <br /> Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass said that in the report, several items were brought up that <br /> needed attention. He made reference to his letter, which includes a response to the concerns. <br /> All of the items that were asked to be corrected have been corrected with the exception of <br /> overcrowding in the Orange County Jail. As to ove[o[owding, on the day of the inspection, <br /> Tuesday, July 8, 2008; Orange County was housing a total of 174 inmates, and 45 were over <br /> capacity. The capacity is 129. Five of the 160 males were on backlog with the Department of <br /> Corrections. Nine of the other people in the jail were there on 30+ day sentences to the Orange <br /> County The backlog creates problems because C}[}[| hag no room. He said that, if there <br /> ioa backlog, the staff calls the DOC daily to see if there are any openings. <br /> He reviewed all of the inspections in May and June and showed where the Orange <br /> County Jail was in compliance. He said that the jail was built in 1925. In 1980, the interior was <br /> renovated. The jail held 38 people when it was �ui\built. After the ngnovatione, it housed 45. In <br /> 1982, Orange County began receiving federal funds from the K8m[aha|, and the jail has been <br /> renovated three times since 1982. The old part of the jail now holds 63 people. The annex <br /> was built in 1990 and it has not been renovated. There is now space needed t house females. <br /> If there was one cell block, then there would be space to house females. If the jail stopped <br /> housing federal inmates, it would lose $2.8 million a year in revenue. He said that the staff <br /> does an outstanding job every day. As to overcrowding, he has called several counties and <br /> found out that Wake County is 193 over oapaoity. Guilford County is 246 over capacity, and <br /> <�abmr[ue <�ountvio4O over-capacity. He said that there is no way to keep from being <br /> overcrowded unless there is more money for renovations. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked staff if there was money in the CIP and Purchasing and Central <br /> Services Director Pam Jones said that there is some money for two female cell blocks. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked about pre-fab structures, and Sheriff Pendergrass said that if the <br /> architect, Hillsborough Historical Society, and other people approve it, he believes that pre-fab <br /> structures could be put in and not detract from any other historical features. <br /> There has not been any response from the historical district representatives. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that the County Commissioners have not adopted the CIP, <br /> so this makes it hard to answer concerns such as this. He asked when the CIP was coming <br /> back. Laura Blackmon said this fall, October 14th, with a public hearing on October 21t <br /> Chair Jacobs said that he would like for the Sheriff to meet with staff before then to <br /> address these concerns. Sheriff Pendergrass said that there will have to be more space, at <br /> least enough to hold 250-300 people. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that it is clear that Orange County is not treating inmates <br /> iDhU[OaOe|y, and this overcrowding problem is statewide. He said that, regardless of what is put <br /> in the CIP this yegr, it will not address the problem in the long run. He wants to make sure that <br /> the public knows that there is no inhumane treatment going on at the jail. <br />