Earlier this month, representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union contacted Lawrence County officials about some concerns at the jail.
Those representatives met with county commissioners, the sheriff, the prosecutor and others to talk about the concerns.
One concern involved the menu at the county jail. When the jail reopened in February following extensive repairs, Sheriff Brad DeLay explained the menu for prisoners would include a breakfast of oatmeal, a lunch of sandwiches (peanut butter or bologna and cheese) and chips and a supper of cornbread, pinto beans and green beans. He explained at that time the same menu would repeat each and every day.
In May, Doug Bonney, chief council and legal director for the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, explained his concerns in a letter. According to that letter, the menu at the jail falls short of the recommended daily calories by about 140 to 460 calories.
Both the sheriff and Bonney indicated nutritionists have checked the menu.
“This would basically come down to them getting nutritionists to say one thing and us getting nutritionists to say another,” said the sheriff.
DeLay reported he learned the deficiency could basically be corrected by adding a slice of cheese to the menu.
“As far as the fruit and vegetables, we were already giving them those. As with most of their information, it was incorrect because it was sent in by inmates who simply weren’t happy with the menu,” added DeLay.
The current menu shows the following:
• breakfast -- oatmeal and milk
• lunch -- two bologna and cheese sandwiches and juice or two peanut butter sandwiches with a side of cheese and juice
• dinner -- pinto beans, green beans, cornbread and applesauce
Following is a list of other concerns noted by the ACLU (marked with a “•”) and the subsequent explanations as provided by Lt. Douglas Schmidly of the sheriff’s staff (noted with a “J”) :
(Both the concerns and explanations have been summarized here.)
• Grievance procedures are not answered.
J Due to attorneys providing prisoners with ACLU forms, prisoners are filing those formers instead of regular grievance forms. Schmidly noted hearing some inmates saying by going to the ACLU first they could cause more trouble.
• Incoming mail, especially legal mail, is not handled in an appropriate manner.
J Some envelopes contain nothing on the outside to indicate legal information is inside.
• Medical assistance is inadequate or unanswered.
J The county nurse is on a full time, as-needed basis. Contracts are maintained with a medical doctor and a psychiatrist who are available 24 hours a day.
• Undue restrictions on exercise and recreation can constitute cruel and unusual punishment or a threat to a prisoner’s health.
J Most inmates have a choice of staying in their cells or going to the day room. Outside recreation is limited due to the availability of staff to prevent assaults and/or escapes.
• At least one female prisoner was denied feminine products.
J An inmate in question went to court and showed how she had bed through her uniform. When the officer returned the inmate to her cell, there were feminie products available in the cell, indicating the imate apparently chose not to use the items, which are always available.
• Other complaints center around frequency of showers, bedding changes and raw sewage backing up in the cells.
J Inmates can shower every other day and change uniforms twice a week. Bedding is changed once a week. A recent plumbing issue was due to one or more inmates flushing towels down the toilet; repairs were made as soon as possible.
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Earlier this month, representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union contacted Lawrence County officials about some concerns at the jail.
Those representatives met with county commissioners, the sheriff, the prosecutor and others to talk about the concerns.
One concern involved the menu at the county jail. When the jail reopened in February following extensive repairs, Sheriff Brad DeLay explained the menu for prisoners would include a breakfast of oatmeal, a lunch of sandwiches (peanut butter or bologna and cheese) and chips and a supper of cornbread, pinto beans and green beans. He explained at that time the same menu would repeat each and every day.
In May, Doug Bonney, chief council and legal director for the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, explained his concerns in a letter. According to that letter, the menu at the jail falls short of the recommended daily calories by about 140 to 460 calories.
Both the sheriff and Bonney indicated nutritionists have checked the menu.
“This would basically come down to them getting nutritionists to say one thing and us getting nutritionists to say another,” said the sheriff.
DeLay reported he learned the deficiency could basically be corrected by adding a slice of cheese to the menu.
“As far as the fruit and vegetables, we were already giving them those. As with most of their information, it was incorrect because it was sent in by inmates who simply weren’t happy with the menu,” added DeLay.
The current menu shows the following:
• breakfast -- oatmeal and milk
• lunch -- two bologna and cheese sandwiches and juice or two peanut butter sandwiches with a side of cheese and juice
• dinner -- pinto beans, green beans, cornbread and applesauce
Following is a list of other concerns noted by the ACLU (marked with a “•”) and the subsequent explanations as provided by Lt. Douglas Schmidly of the sheriff’s staff (noted with a “J”) :
(Both the concerns and explanations have been summarized here.)
• Grievance procedures are not answered.
J Due to attorneys providing prisoners with ACLU forms, prisoners are filing those formers instead of regular grievance forms. Schmidly noted hearing some inmates saying by going to the ACLU first they could cause more trouble.
• Incoming mail, especially legal mail, is not handled in an appropriate manner.
J Some envelopes contain nothing on the outside to indicate legal information is inside.
• Medical assistance is inadequate or unanswered.
J The county nurse is on a full time, as-needed basis. Contracts are maintained with a medical doctor and a psychiatrist who are available 24 hours a day.
• Undue restrictions on exercise and recreation can constitute cruel and unusual punishment or a threat to a prisoner’s health.
J Most inmates have a choice of staying in their cells or going to the day room. Outside recreation is limited due to the availability of staff to prevent assaults and/or escapes.
• At least one female prisoner was denied feminine products.
J An inmate in question went to court and showed how she had bed through her uniform. When the officer returned the inmate to her cell, there were feminie products available in the cell, indicating the imate apparently chose not to use the items, which are always available.
• Other complaints center around frequency of showers, bedding changes and raw sewage backing up in the cells.
J Inmates can shower every other day and change uniforms twice a week. Bedding is changed once a week. A recent plumbing issue was due to one or more inmates flushing towels down the toilet; repairs were made as soon as possible.
