Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jail Conditions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shelby County officials cite four recent jail deaths, outline repairs and staffing shortfalls
Summary
Sheriff's office officials told the county ad hoc public-safety committee that four people died in the jail in a single week, described emotional impacts and outlined a two-year plan of repairs and tactical staffing changes to reduce incidents.
Anthony Buckner, chief deputy of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, told the ad hoc public-safety committee that "a week or so back, we experienced 4 deaths in the jail in 1 week," and said the events had weighed heavily on staff and families.
Buckner said the office is balancing short-term tactical steps — more shakedowns, reassignment of deputies to support jail floors and recruitment — with longer-term strategic planning for a new jail. He said the commission previously approved just over $6,000,000 to replace about 686 sliding doors with hinged doors to improve control of detainee movement and expects the door conversions and other repairs to take roughly two years. Buckner also urged continued coordination with the judiciary and other agencies to address detainee health and safety while structural repairs proceed.
