NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Lewis County Faces Security Risks, Problems At Jail

Lewis County Faces Security Risks, Problems At Jail

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A worn out roof, broken air conditioner, and out of date security cameras are creating some serious safety concerns in one Middle Tennessee Jail.

Lewis County officials have three weeks to fix the problems or the county could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funding.

"How much water do you think that cost the county a day?  That's how it pours constantly," said jail administrator Rebecca Carroll.

Carroll said the leaky sink was the least of her worries. The broken air conditioner was the biggest concern.

"When they get hot they get a little irritable ok, alright. Now imagine shoving 10, 12, however many people in a small pod. That's extremely hot," said Carroll.

To cool the temperature and the inmates' tempers, jail officials have been forced to crack doors leading into housing areas.

"You know it's a serious security risk, but it's either that or them smothered to death," said Carroll.

Last month the state gave Lewis County an ultimatum - fix the air conditioner, the leaky plumbing, the leaky roof and update the security camera system.

None of the mandates surprised Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick.

"Well it becomes frustrating for us to try to get those things fixed without any money to fix those," said Kilpatrick.

After two years of trying, the sheriff said the state's demands have finally convinced county commissioners to fix the problems.

Lewis County officials are in the process of fixing all of those problems. Maintenance personal said they are collecting bids from contractors.

They expect it will cost more than $100,000 to bring the jail up to state standards. The issues should be corrected by the September 1 deadline.

If officials do not correct the problems at the Lewis County Jail, the county could lose more than $200,000 a year in state funding.