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Lawrence County jail cited for numerous violations

Constant overcrowding, jail cells that are smaller than what is allowed, a lack of training of staff, and inadequate facilities are some of the numerous violations state officials have cited the Lawrence County jail.    According to the Sun newspaper, recent documents show state inspectors have found the jail to be inadequate and even calls the jail a danger to inmates and staff.  The report showed that overcrowding is so severe in some instances that some inmates had to sleep on the floor in hallways.  The overcrowding has also led a lack of separation among regular inmates and those inmates that are considered to be more dangerous.  The jail was also cited for being understaffed and the employees were reportedly not adequately trained.  The 42 bed jail was built in 1965 and was renovated in 1990, but those renovations have not been enough to meet state standards.  While state officials stopped short of recommending the jail close, Lawrence County Judge Dale Freeman tells the Sun the jail could be placed on probation in January if those problems are not corrected.  Freeman says the real solution to the problem is to build a new jail.  That would cost millions of dollars and a sales tax would be likely asked of voters.  Freeman says that might be hard to do, especially since the hospital asked for a sales tax increase for support, and Walnut Ridge citizens are to be asked this fall for a vote on a millage increase.

Johnathan Reaves is the News Director for KASU Public Radio. As part of an Air Force Family, he moved to Arkansas from Minot, North Dakota in 1986. He was first bitten by the radio bug after he graduated from Gosnell High School in 1992. While working on his undergraduate degree, he worked at KOSE, a small 1,000 watt AM commercial station in Osceola, Arkansas. Upon graduation from Arkansas State University in 1996 with a degree in Radio-Television Broadcast News, he decided that he wanted to stay in radio news. He moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas and worked for East Arkansas Broadcasters as news director and was there for 16 years.