Commissioners vote against funding emergency jail repairs
by: Brian Didlake
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Emergency repairs for Shelby County’s jail have been delayed as county commissioners search for alternative ways to pay for it.
Commissioners voted 7 to 6 on Monday to hold off on paying for the jail, despite some people’s claims the building is “literally” falling apart.
The vote came down to paying for the repairs at the jail or paying for the new mental health facility.
For the time being, commissioners chose neither.
“Today, this commissioner wants to convey to everyone you need to sue Shelby County because it is the only thing that is going to move this commission,” Brittney Thorton said.
That call to action came as commissioners voted to not sidetrack a proposed $15 million mental health center for emergency repairs to 201 Poplar.
“Is the project going to be CIP as far as the mental health facility as a possibility or are they trying to make the repairs,” Commissioner Edmund Ford asked.
“When we don’t do our job in funding the repairs on the jail I see it as a backdoor ‘Defund the Police’ process,” Commissioner Amber Mills said.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office posted their safety concerns on social media last week.
“Our other problems you’ve heard us speak about – doors that won’t lock, inmates are literally booby trapping doors so they can sleep at night,” Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner said in the video.
They made their pleas heard before commissioners as well.
“We can not secure the inmates in a manner that we need to do on a daily basis,” Officer Donna Echols said. “It’s just very unsafe in the jail.”
The urgency for this vote is crucial due to a state certification inspection for the county jail scheduled for later this month.
The SCSO sent out a breakdown of where the $15 million would go.
The bulk of that money would go to equipment maintenance, contracted for a little more than $14 million.
Almost the same amount is needed to fund a new mental health facility.
The rest of the money would go towards items like equipment, construction materials, and more.
“Shifting these funds from the Mental Health Safety and Justice Center to jail repairs perpetuates an over-alliance for incarceration,” said Harris Newton of the Mental Health Justice and Safety Alliance.
Both the Sheriff and Commissioners cited state laws that say the county is responsible for jail maintenance but some want more time to search for alternative funding.
“I think there is time for us to be much more thoughtful in what you have as needs and what funds we have available and how we can address both of those things,” Commissioner Shante K. Avant said.
The SCSO said inmates suffering from poor mental health make up a third of the jail population. They added that they see a need for a mental health center but believe something needs to be done about the repairs now.
About Post Author
