JAILHOUSE POWDER-KEG

Overcrowding And Short Funds Push Brevard Jail To Breaking Point

There's no way to be certain whether the third prisoner suicide in six
weeks at the Brevard County Detention Center is the result of
overcrowding, inadequate staffing or both.

But if the jail in Sharpes had been decently funded, there's a better
chance the three could have been stopped before they ended their lives.

As a story published today in FLORIDA TODAY shows, the continuing
refusal of taxpayers to approve needed funding for the jail has
created a looming disaster that could be far more costly in money and
lives than the needed jail addition.

But despite rising danger to the jail's employees and to the public
should there be an escape, voters' rejection of a jail expansion tax
leaves Brevard under threat of court order to immediately expand jail
space -- or release inmates into the streets.

We understand that sympathy for those in jail can be short. And we, as
strongly as anyone, support tough laws that keep criminals behind bars.

However, the Constitution requires certain humane standards of
prisoner treatment, and decency demands that jail workers -- who work
for the taxpayers -- shouldn't have to fear being killed on the job.

The unconscionable conditions open the county to potentially massive
lawsuits by prisoners, jail employees and their relatives, should an
injury or death occur due to the failure to provide proper safety.

Designed for 400 prisoners but now forced to hold 1,400, the jail is
severely short of guards. Disturbances are constant. And worse, in
addition to guards' heavy workload, they must deal with mentally ill
prisoners who may threaten others or themselves.

There is no full-time psychiatrist to offer help and only a small
mental health staff. And the jail has too few glass-fronted cells
where despondent prisoners can be watched.

Equally dangerous, packing sometimes-sick prisoners within inches of
each other fosters the spread of "every communicable disease known to
mankind," said Brevard Sheriff's Cmdr. Terry Altman, who runs the jail.

That includes staphylococcus infections that plagued the jail in
October, and potentially other illnesses such as tuberculosis and
meningitis.

Exposing prisoners and employees to the dense crowding and then having
them go out into the community poses a "public safety problem," Altman
said.

And it's not the only one.

Records must be handwritten by hurried employees, causing the mistaken
releases of prisoners. Furthermore, there's not always enough money
for even basic needs, such as light bulbs and window repairs to
prevent escapes.

The problems faced by the detention center have been growing worse for
years. The recent deaths are both an illustration of the desperate
conditions and a warning that they must be addressed.

A proposed 256-bed minimum-security dormitory could help and should be
pursued, but would do little to meet the long term needs of this
rapidly growing county.

For life, health, safety and protection from lawsuits, the county must
address larger needs now -- before this powder keg explodes.