LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Overcrowding issues at Metro Corrections has inmates cramped and jail leaders seeking action.
“If the police bring them, I take them. I legally, statutorily have to take them,” Director Mark Bolton told members of the Metro Council Tuesday night.
He showed everyone there a picture of what should be a 24-person cell holding 40 inmates.
Bolton told Council members that inmates with bonds under $1,000 and lots of state inmates are the reason for the Metro Corrections overflow, and why many have to stay in the old jail above Louisville Metro Police Headquarters.
“I think that having the ability to spread people out as opposed to cramming more people together, in an already cramped and tight space is the best option that we have at this point in time,” he explained.
Jail leaders said the air conditioning there doesn't work and earlier this month, inmates flushed bedding and clothing down the toilet, forcing the pipes to burst and flooding the chief's office down below. FOP President Tracey Dotson told WHAS11 News that the conditions at the old jail are not safe.
“We're not getting to a situation that's more dangerous or more stressful, we're at the top, already,” he explained to council members.
He said it's deterring corrections officers from staying at their jobs and keeping others from applying. He believes it’s a problem that will only get worse if the overflow jail space isn't shut down.
“When it comes to that public safety, you can't cut any corners and you need to get up off your rear and get things done,” Dotson told WHAS11 News.
Both Director Bolton and FOP President Dotson left the chambers Tuesday seeming to agree that the jail space above LMPD headquarters must close eventually, which is progress. The question now is ‘how and when?’
“I will close it when I safely can. So when the population drops below a certain level and we know that is trending in that direction, I will close that unit, Bolton told WHAS11 News.
“This isn't a normal discussion where we leave and say, this was a nice discussion and we do nothing about it. We need action on this issue and when someone says, well it can't be done and we can't get these people involved, why not?” Dotson said.
Dotson told WHAS11 News that he would like to see the extra holding space close by the end of the year and find other ways, like bond reform and home incarceration to ease the jail overcrowding issue.
►Contact reporter Heather Fountaine at hfountaine@whas11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@WHAS11Heather) and Facebook.