REPORT FINDS NEW HOUSTON JAIL NEEDS MORE STAFF

PERRY - Houston County taxpayers might have to open their wallets a little
more to staff the new Houston County Jail.

But sheriff's experts say that without additional staffing, the county
could be looking at major trouble down the road.

A November report from the Georgia Sheriff's Association recommended that
the Houston County Sheriff's Department hire 118 additional employees to
work inside the new jail, which is scheduled to be completed in October.
According to an early estimate, those new employees would expand the
department's budget by more than $2 million each year.

"We are working on those numbers now," Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton
said Thursday. "The first and foremost thing on my mind is the protection
of my staff. I want to make sure we go in there with enough people."

The current 224-bed jail has 65 employees. Friday, there were 160 inmates
in the jail. Houston County Jail Administrator Capt. Willie Ezell said the
empty beds are in areas that are classified for certain types of inmates or
for new inmates being brought into the jail.

Steve Engle, Houston County director of management services, said the
County Commission could possibly raise taxes to fund the increased cost if
commissioners agree to hire the additional 53 workers. He could not say
when the commission might vote on the matter.

"There are three ways to pay for the increase," Engle said. "We will use
the money that is currently being spent to house inmates in other counties,
and use tax revenues that are currently being used elsewhere. There is a
possibility that taxes could be raised."

The county currently pays more than $1 million each year to house county
inmates in other jails across south and Middle Georgia. Friday, there were
183 inmates being housed elsewhere.

Houston County Commissioner Tom McMichael said the commission currently is
studying how many new employees will be needed. He said the commission will
approve the hiring of staff gradually over a period of time and hopes to
have the majority of them hired by May.

"We have always known that we were going to have to increase the staff of
the new jail considerably," McMichael said Friday. "We have to give (the
sheriff) enough people to run the jail. We would never want to compromise
the safety of those officers by not having enough staff."

McMichael said a tax increase would be the last option the commission would
consider to pay for the increase. He hopes the difference will be shored up
by increases in the tax digest.

The new facility will be run by direct supervision, with jailers being
placed inside "pods" with the inmates. Jailers currently observe inmates
using video monitors and regular physical inspections.

"A fundamental requirement in operating the jail is that it be staffed with
enough employees to perform all duties and discharge all responsibilities
regarding the care, custody and safety of those committed for confinement,"
Georgia Sheriff's Association official John E. Southern wrote in his report
to commissioners.

Southern cautioned that because jailers are responsible for inmates'
safety, the county could open itself up to litigation should an inmate be
injured or die in custody.

Last week, the Houston commission approved money for the sheriff's office
to hire seven new employees to replace a group of employees who have been
assigned to a transition team. That team will help plan the transition to
the new jail and help coordinate new and old employees' training at the new
facility.

Construction of the new jail is on schedule despite recent rain delays,
according to construction officials. Talton said he hopes to have the new
jail in operation in November.