Fayette Prison population continues to grow
The number of prisoners continues to increase at the Fayette County Prison. Warden Larry Medlock told the prison board at its monthly meeting Wednesday that the facility had a 16.5 increase in the number of prisoners this January from January of 2002.
Medlock said the prison population has increased to 240 in the past few days because of sentences handed down in court.
Last year, the prison had an average population of 217 inmates, said Medlock. Of those 67.7 percent were white males; 20.2 percent were black males; 10.7 percent were white females and 1.4 percent were black females.
The bulk of the inmate population, 37 percent, ranged from ages 18 to 22 last year, according to statistics provided by Medlock. Slightly over 60 percent of last year’s prison population was unsentenced, meaning they had cases pending in court. Those inmates accounted for 55.6 of all prison days served.
Medlock’s statistics also included a break down of the top charges for 2002. The most frequent charge that put people in jail was driving under the influence of alcohol, followed by drug charges and homicide/aggravated assault charges.
Due to inmate housing issues, most of which occurred before the prison annex opened, Medlock said the prison went $104,558 over budget sending inmates to neighboring prisons for housing.
“In the short term, (the annex) has been effective in keeping people of the county,” said board member, Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites.
Medlock said that a rise in female prisoners has also brought about concerns about where women will be housed. The prison is one female inmate away from its 24-woman capacity.
The board also heard a year-end wrap up from Chief Adult Probation Officer Lou Lozar. He said that 221 inmates participated in the Intermediate Punishment program last year, saving 11,380 jail days and saving the county an estimated $444,320.
The Intermediate Punishment program uses house arrest, with or without electronic monitoring, to punish non-violent offenders.
Meanwhile, the problem of a leaky roof in the newly annex has been addressed, according to prison board officials.
Chairman Sheriff Gary D. Brownfield Sr. said that by the time he talked to Medlock, the warden was in the process of talking to the annex architect to get the problem resolved.
In the end, the leak was not an actual leak, but built up condensation dripping down. The solution was to keep on air circulating fans that were meant to run continuously.
Other minor problems in the annex, including cracked urinals and toilets and a washer that wouldn’t work, will also be taken care of, said Brownfield.
“Everything’s going to be repaired (by the appropriate contractors) at no cost to the county,” said Brownfield.