Beating, escape by inmates in Burke County put spotlight on security needs
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Last month, a detention officer was distributing medication at the Burke County Jail when three inmates grabbed him, choked him with the metal cord of a nearby pay phone and handcuffed him to the cell.
The inmates took the guard's keys before dousing him with pepper spray and beating him over the head with a flashlight.
They escaped from the cell and soon confronted the second jailer on duty, whom they handcuffed and beat over the head with a baton and flashlight. One of the inmates went into the control room and unlocked a door to the outside.
Within moments, as the guards lay in pools of blood, the three inmates had escaped through the jail's front door.
Normally, jails are out of sight, and we rarely consider what's happening on the other side of the steel doors.
But the recent escape from the Burke County Jail and several inmate deaths in recent months at jails connected to Catawba County have left Unifour residents wondering what's happening behind the concrete walls.
One thing is certain - jails in the region are looking for change. Alexander County officials are making plans for a new and larger facility, while Caldwell County's jail administrator is trying to keep overcrowding at a minimum by moving convicted inmates to prison soon after they are sentenced.
Burke County officials are making progress at adding officers to the downtown jail, which they say has been severely understaffed for years, and Catawba County is getting ready to open a state-of-the-art jail four times as large as its current facility.
The Observer looked at these jails and compared staffing, budget and inmate capacity at each facility. We also talked to sheriffs and administrators about each jail's greatest needs and most pressing issues.
Burke County Jail
Overview: Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has said that the 31-year-old jail in downtown Morganton is in need of major renovations and is dangerously understaffed. Last month, three inmates escaped from the jail after handcuffing and severely beating the two guards on duty.
Inmates: The 66-bed jail is often near its capacity; in the last month, the number of inmates ranged from 47 to 64. It averages 54 inmates a day; the typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 27.
Jailers: Eight detention officers, allowing for two jailers per shift. Last week, the Burke County Board of Commissioners added two more detention officers, which would bring the nighttime shifts up to three guards. New jailers receive an annual salary of less than $24,000. Since the jail only takes male inmates, only male guards work there.
2006-07 Budget: $1.1 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: Could not provide.
Needs: Staffing, working security cameras, new doors, an updated key system and a smoke ventilation system.
New Catawba County Jail
Overview: The new Catawba County jail, which is in the final stages of construction and has not been named, is scheduled to begin housing inmates this spring. Sheriff David Huffman says the state-of-the-art facility, which features eight video visitation booths, was designed so that it can be expanded.
Inmates: The 176-bed jail, at 98,000 square feet, is about four times as large as the county's current jail. In addition to a trusty dormitory, the jail has single-bed cells, two-bed cells and four padded holding cells.
Jailers: Guards will work in the new jail as well as in the attached older facility. The jail employs deputies who have detention training, as well as detention officers. Annual salaries for deputies begin at $32,111; salaries for detention officers start at $26,401.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $4.6 million (combined detention budget including the new jail).
Issues: Huffman hopes to house male and female inmates in the new jail and renovate the older facility for juveniles.
Caldwell County Detention Center
Overview: The seven-year-old jail is the region's newest facility currently housing inmates, and the new administrator, Capt. Chris Brackett, is focusing on keeping the jail in good shape.
Inmates: The 185-bed jail, which holds male and female inmates, is often near capacity or overcrowded, peaking at more than 250 inmates last fall. In January, it housed between 171 and 196 inmates. The typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 26.
Jailers: The jail employs 28 full-time detention officers, allowing for seven jailers per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $22,634. Last month, county commissioners approved hiring eight new detention officers. They have been hired.
2006-07 Budget: $2.2 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: Could not provide.
Issues: Bracket said the jail needs more staffing and higher salaries. Problems have included an escape in 2002 and a July 2005 suicide when an inmate hanged himself in his cell.
Burke-Catawba Confinement Facility
Overview: The 12-year-old jail, operated jointly by Burke and Catawba counties, is a prefabricated facility that houses men and women. Last month, a 27-year-old female inmate died while being held in an isolation cell. The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death.
Inmates: Overcrowding is common at the 176-bed jail. In January, the jail held between 177 and 203, and the typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 35. Two inmates have escaped from the jail in the past 10 years. The most recent escape was in 1998.
Jailers: The jail employs 29 full-time detention officers, allowing for six jailers per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $23,865.
2006-07 Budget: $2.5 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $2.6 million.
Needs: Increased salary and staffing.
Alexander County Detention Center
Overview: Sheriff Hayden Bentley said the 37-year-old jail in downtown Taylorsville desperately needs renovations to accommodate increasing numbers of inmates. He has been looking at designs for a new facility with more than 100 beds and would like to break ground by spring 2008.
Inmates: The 26-bed jail is regularly overcrowded, and in the last month held between 23 and 39 inmates. The typical ratio of guards to inmates is 1 to 15. Most of Alexander County's female inmates are housed at the Caldwell County Jail.
Jailers: Six full-time detention officers. Two jailers work per 12-hour shift. New jailers receive an annual salary of $22,000.
2006-07 Budget: $606,513.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $618,643.
Needs: Staffing, additional cell space, and major renovations and updates.
Catawba County Jail
Overview: Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman has said that the 27-year-old jail attached to the government center in Newton is outdated and needs major renovations and updates. Since September 2004, two men have died in custody. A third died from head trauma in June 2006, two days after being released from the jail.
Inmates: The 98-bed jail is perpetually overcrowded, and in the last month housed between 143 to 180 male and female inmates. Many sleep on mats on the floor. In January 2000, an inmate escaped during visitation hours after hitting a guard over the head.
Jailers: Fourteen full-time detention officers. Three guards work each 12-hour shift. An additional jailer works between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. Jailers are trained deputies and start at an annual salary of $32,111.
2006-07 Budget: $2.9 million.
Anticipated 2007-08 Budget: $4.6 million (combined detention budget including the new jail).
Issues: Insufficient bed space, minimal storage room, staffing, and major renovations and updates.
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