STUDY SHOWS SPACE AT A PREMIUM IN BRUNSWICK JAIL

The Brunswick County jail is overcrowded and is too small for its
administration to properly conduct business, according to results of a
study released this week.

The jail housed an average of 105 inmates per day last year, although it
only is built for 75 inmates, and has four jailers per shift, the
FreemanWhite architectural firm study reported.

"It has been dangerously overcrowded for years and will get worse if
solutions aren't made soon," said Steve Allan, a representative with the firm.

The Charlotte-based firm was commissioned by Brunswick County officials
this year to conduct a study to determine how to solve the space crunch and
if a new jail is needed.

The study was presented Wednesday to mostly county judicial system
officials. The Board of Commissioners is expected to receive the report
during its next regular meeting, June 3.

Mr. Allan said inmates were sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and too
many were in the jail's four cellblock units.

He added that with the increasing population in Brunswick County, the firm
expects the jail to regularly house about 207 inmates by 2025.

"The report just shows what we have been saying for years, now it's
official," said Capt. Kevin Holden, chief jailer.

Mr. Allan also said the building is too small to house its administration
and equipment and he showed pictures of copiers and files in hallways.

He also showed pictures of food trays being distributed from the booking
station - saying the trays were clogging up the area.

The 12-week study took note of several Brunswick County jail statistics and
issues that included inmates' demographics, criminal charges and average
jail time. Commissioners and officials will use the report to determine how
to address the inmate overcrowding and the need for more administrative space.

The firm recommended several options. Mr. Allan said building a new and
larger jail designed to house 207 inmates - the expected average population
in 2025 - was the best solution. He estimated that a new jail that size
would cost between $13 million and $15 million.

Commissioners were already considering allotting $6.5 million over the next
two fiscal years for a new jail.

"This does encourage us to give more consideration to a new jail, but we
couldn't spend $15 million on one," Commissioner David Sandifer said.

Mr. Allan said the jail could be built in stages.

The Sheriff's Department argument for a new jail recently escalated after
three jailers were injured by inmates during an attempted escape in
October; and three inmates escaped out of a defective cell window earlier
this month.

The department attributed both escapes to overcrowding and the need for a
new jail.

Other options to reduce inmate population were also discussed Wednesday,
including expanding the county's house arrest program and reducing the time
inmates have to wait in jail before trial.

Giving the Sheriff's Department room in the old Brunswick County courthouse
is also an option.

Capt. Holden said that while many law-abiding citizens may argue that
inmates deserve to be packed in, it creates a dangerous situation for jailers.

"Many residents don't take into consideration that jailers have to walk
into these overcrowded jails," Capt. Holden said.