Detroit’s New Jail: A Rocky Start with Troubling Incidents
It hasn’t been the smoothest beginning for Wayne County’s new jail in Detroit. Just two weeks after its grand opening, the facility has encountered serious challenges, including floods, fights, and a heart-wrenching incident involving an attempt at suicide by an inmate. This sudden turmoil has left both deputies and attorneys unhappy, questioning the optimistic outlook that some county officials had previously shared.
Unpacking the Issues
One notable voice in this discussion is Allen Cox, president of the Wayne County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. He expressed the frustrations felt by many when he stated, “We were told that all of the things and issues that we had at the previous jails would not be an issue at the new facility. That has not been the case.”
Just this past Tuesday night, the situation took a tragic turn when an inmate, who is facing a homicide charge, attempted to hang himself inside his cell. Although the jail was designed with suicide-resistant measures, the event has raised plenty of eyebrows. Reports have indicated that the inmate had previously shown signs of crisis, having been placed on suicide precautions at least two times prior to this incident. He was on a path to mental health treatment after requesting help, but just a day after consulting with a nurse, he was not under the precautionary measures. This raises critical questions about what went wrong in the system’s response.
The Importance of Communication
But the issues don’t stop there. Many inmates have voiced their discontent over the communication barriers within the jail. David Cripps, a defense attorney, shared that he has consistently heard complaints from his clients about not being able to communicate effectively with the outside world. As tensions rise among inmates, some have resorted to acting out, leading to fights and even damaging jail property. “Inmates are breaking sprinkler heads,” noted Cox, pointing out that unhappy inmates are a recipe for a tough shift for the deputies. “If your inmates inside your pod or ward are not happy, you’re going to have a rough shift. It’s going to be a rough 8-16 hours.”
Meeting Challenges
Meeting with clients has also become a logistical nightmare for defense attorneys. Where the old facility boasted 25 meeting booths, the new jail has cut that number down to just five. This means that meetings that once took about 15 minutes are now dragging on for hours before they can even get started, leading one attorney, Gabi Silver, to question, “Whose idea was that? How is that going to make anybody’s job easier or anybody’s access to their client easier?”
Looking Ahead
In an effort to address these escalating concerns, representatives from the sheriff’s office have pointed to an earlier statement issued by the county. Unfortunately, that has not quelled the frustrations felt across the board. Both inmates and attorneys are looking for immediate solutions to what has turned into a chaotic situation.
The challenges facing Wayne County’s new jail highlight a broader conversation about the need for effective communication, support, and resources within correctional facilities. As the dust settles on this rocky opening, it’s crucial that all involved—deputies, attorneys, and officials—come together to create an environment that not only maintains safety and order but also respects the rights and needs of all individuals within the facility.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to watch how Wayne County addresses these hurdles and whether the promises of the new jail can eventually live up to expectations. Everyone in Detroit hopes to see positive changes soon.
