Sandy Stowell [12/29/2003]

To the editor:In response to the article on the jail dated Nov. 1.I have spoken with a gentleman who worked at Carroll County Jail nearly 20 years ago. The condition of the building was allowed to deteriorate to its present state in all of that time. Why was there so little work to maintain it in all those years? The job description for county commissioners includes the responsibility of maintaining the county buildings. I challenge the commissioners to have a public viewing and inspection of the interior of the old jail, nothing hidden, before the evidence is destroyed! Will it take a court injunction to do this? This inspection must be conducted by someone not connected with this county, or those who operate it. These are statements attributed to those running the jail..."They are a bunch of animals, they ain't got nothing comin'." "A stoned inmate is a good inmate." "Dead man walkin."Marge Webster has been quoted in the past concerning the lack of education in these men. Where does she get her information and evidence from? My husband has a college education and more than 36 years of experience working for the government and the military. Do the commissioners have this background? I would venture a guess that no employee of the jail has that background! The recent ad in the paper for correctional officers only requires a GED! Maybe that is why the treatment of human beings is so disgusting. The jail employees don't seem to know any better!The comment about "turning the inmates out better than they came to us" How do you explain the high recidivism rate? How do you explain the many suicides and attempted suicides in this facility? The jail employees were warned in some cases before these took place. I have spoken with Lindsey Hayes. assistant director of National Center on Institutions and Alternatives a branch of U.S. Department of Justice. He is an authority on these issues and was quoted in your paper back in April of 2002. The statistics at this jail are off the scale! The building is not the only problem! How does one support their employees when they are not privy to what they are doing? I have seen inmates at the old jail sleeping on cold concrete with no pillows or blankets. How difficult would it have been to ask those in the community for donations of these items? The lack of decent food and medical care is also an issue.The most recent statistics state that one in 37 people have been or will be incarcerated in this country. Does that not tell us that what we have been doing is not working? All we do is put back into society people who are even more angry and bitter than when they were first incarcerated. A lot is hidden from the public!Why do the commissioners think they are an authority on jails and prisons? Do they have a degree in criminal justice, law, or social psychology? Have they ever worked "behind the wall?" Until that day, being in an elected position doesn't mean anything when it comes to being an authority. Raising money is their job...not some miracle occurrence. Why didn't they get donations for important things for the inmates? Why were there no programs set up to assist the inmate's families?I am still waiting for an explanation of the engraved granite bench in front of the jail. Donation is one thing, putting your name on it is another. I am still waiting for answers to the childish signs on the jail building..."Margie's Jail" "Dave's Place" "Randy's". Do these commissioners have an ego problem? This certainly isn't very mature behavior. Unless the jail was paid for out of their pockets, the jail belongs to the taxpayers and citizens of the county!I am continuing to gather evidence and witnesses to this nightmare. I have photographs and proof of my statements. Does one think the "Snow" case has been and will be the only headline? There are more cases pending. I am personally ashamed of the behavior of those who are in charge!Still fighting for truth and integrity