Rutherford County Adult Detention Center's staff will resolve nine deficiencies listed during an annual inspection of the facility by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, said Sheriff Robert Arnold.
Besides the deficiencies, the TCI staff "strongly recommend that county officials provide staffing for the C-D tower" for the eight additional pods in the jail.
No deficiencies were found in personnel, discipline, sanitation and maintenance, food services, mail and visiting, medical services, admission and records and release.
TCI added more than 400 new standards in January.
"We've worked very hard over the past five months to rewrite our policies and procedures to reflect the new standards that we have been given by the state of Tennessee," Sheriff Arnold said. "These deficiencies have been addressed and will be resolved by Aug. 1."
Deficiencies listed include:
- Six cameras do not work.
- The sheriff has not signed the new policy manual.
- Fire drills are not held every three months with staff members on every shift.
- The fire evacuation plan has not been approved by a fire inspector or contractor.
- Logs for inventory of toxic, corrosive and flammable materials have not been conducted.
- Logs do not reflect testing and inventory of weapons.
- The policy does not address inmates have confidential access to attorney, legal materials or access to the courts.
- The comptroller's office is conducting a special audit to determine compliance.
- The policy does not address non-smoking inmates being exposed to second-hand smoke.
- The policy does not reflect housing or programs and services for inmates with disabilities.
Maj. Tommy Thompson, who supervises the Adult Detention Center, said the staff will correct the deficiencies.
"We take it very seriously and we absolutely will be in compliance when they come back in August," Maj. Thompson said.
Most of the deficiencies did not affect the inmate care, he said.
Part of the problems occurred because of the additional standards. The staff will participate in the fire drills and keep logs. Policies will updated and signed by the sheriff.
The staff also complimented the "excellent training" coordinated by Sgt. David Hutsell.
Lt. Chris Deal, facilities coordinator, said Capt. Derrell Cagle set up a committee several months ago to study the 412 new standards and the Detention Center's policies and procedures.
"We are working to replace the faulty cameras," Lt. Deal said.
Sheriff Arnold said the staff worked tirelessly to get in compliance with the new standards.
"We will continue to strive to be the model facility for the state of Tennessee," Sheriff Arnold said.
