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Screens like this one, in a cell block for the mentally ill, will be installed throughout the Cowlitz County by July. The barriers are designed to keep inmates from leaping off the upper tiers of cell blocks into a common area below. Tony Lystra / The Daily News

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Jail officials revamp screen project

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 3:03 PM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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County officials have had to alter a plan to install protective screens at the Cowlitz County Jail because they worry inmates will climb them and hang from the rafters.

In February, the county agreed to spend more than $260,000 to install the barriers on the upper tiers of the jail’s cell blocks. The measure is intended to keep inmates from jumping 12 feet into a common area below.

Officials said they want to prevent inmates from trying to commit suicide or pushing corrections officers off the upper tiers, most of which are currently protected by a waist-high railing. Last summer an inmate suffered minor injuries after jumping from the upper tier of a cell block and landing in an area below where inmates commingle.

Officials recently discovered a flaw in their plan, however.

The screens were designed to attach to the jail’s steel roof trusses. That could have allowed inmates to climb the screens, then hang from the trusses and jump from an even greater height, said Ron Junker, the county’s facilities director.

The screens are being redesigned to run all the way up to the ceiling, which should block inmates from climbing into the trusses.

With the changes, the project’s cost has now climbed to nearly $265,000, which is still less than the $270,000 the county had budgeted for the job.

Officials have been trying to smoke out security flaws at the jail since it opened in 2006. County Commissioner Axel Swanson said he wished the screen project was not so expensive, but he said jail officials have “to be ready for anyone and anything.”

“We get people from all walks of life in the jail, obviously,” he said. “You don’t know if they’re going to come in on something. You don’t know what state of mind they’re going to be in.”

The screens’ mesh is tight enough that it would be difficult for an inmate to hook his fingers in it and climb, Junker said. Still, he said, “Inmates are very creative. ... They have a lot of ingenuity.”

Work on the project is expected to begin in two weeks, and the screens, Junker said, should be installed in all of the jail’s eight cell blocks by the end of July.

One cell block, for particularly dangerous and mentally ill inmates, already includes the screening.

Screens like this one, in a cell block for the mentally ill, will be installed throughout the Cowlitz County by July. The barriers are designed to keep inmates from leaping off the upper tiers of cell blocks into a common area below.

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I wonder, wrote on Apr 16, 2008 5:58 AM:

" What relative of the jail officials will get the contract to make the changes? "

common Man wrote on Apr 16, 2008 6:45 AM:

" We have screen in one section for mental inmates, area we considering only one safety factor, what happens if there is a fire? Do they only have one way access in and out? "

Rocket 79 wrote on Apr 16, 2008 7:38 AM:

" I voted twice for "No New Jail" but they built one in spite of my vote. Now it seems that there is no end in sight to it's completion. By the time they "get the bugs worked out" it will be outdated and need replaced -- or at the very least -- built onto. This entire jail fiasco is kinda' like wiping your arse with plastic, there is no end to the chit. "

Slow learners wrote on Apr 16, 2008 7:48 AM:

" It has been open for two years and they are still trying to "smoke out security flaws???!!!"
Sounds like the inmates are smarter than the county employees. Laziness, inefficiency, and mis-management perhaps? "

Citizen Jane wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:02 AM:

" Like herding monkeys in a barrel. Sheesh... "

Common Sense wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:05 AM:

" Safety glass, or plexi-glass would be impossible to climb. Good thinking!! Couldn't the inmates climb to the rafters and jump back down to the second level? How many feet are we saving here? "

me wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:52 AM:

" Quit blaming the county or jail officials -- blame the inmates who will do just about anything to cause damage to others or themselves. Unfortunately, not every stupid thing they would do could be planned for ahead of time. "

Wife of Corrections Officer wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:55 AM:

" My husband is a Corrections Officer and I have to say that this new security feature is for the safety of the inmates as well as for people like my husband. In this often thankless job, anything that can protect our officers more is a plus. Our officers are not the ones who decide how the county's money is spent, and I take offense at labeling all county officials as
"lazy and inefficient." Would you like to take down unruly prisoners without a barrier and fall twelve feet? I think not. "

re Rocket 79 wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:16 AM:

" Didn't we vote not to raise taxes to build a jail... not whether or not to build one at all? When you have as much drug use and crime as we do here, expanding jail space was pretty much inevitable - the question was "where will the money come from?" right? "

TM2865 wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:57 AM:

" More money spent on helping people with drug problems would be better spent than locking them up in a new jail no one really wanted any way fix the problem dont just lock them up and throw away the key "

When does it end wrote on Apr 16, 2008 10:17 AM:

" That is why we don't need to have our taxes go to a dog park. We need to have the tax money go towards the thugs in jail. "

Whiners wrote on Apr 16, 2008 10:35 AM:

" It amazes me how many of you complain about the new jail. Those of you who whine about the taxes also whine about your car being prowled or some other small crime that the former jail did not have the capacity to incarcerate offenders of these small crimes. There has been a decrease in property crimes, now that we can lock these thieves up. In every new building, you will find something that seemed good on paper but not as good in actuality. It happens. I am grateful for the corrections officers who deal with the bozos in lockup, I don't want their job. If the screen will protect them, it is good. I don't have the same regard for the inmate, however if they do jump & get hurt, it is just a further drain on the taxpayers. I just wish that those of you who complain would go spend a day in a correction officer's job before you whine! "

Kelso Resident wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:04 AM:

" I can say for one building a new jail was not the main thing they should have been worried about we have other needs that need to be dealt with like property's around this town that look like crap. Not all those people in jail are bad people or even thugs some just make mistakes. To the people who say as long as it protects the corrections officer then so be it what if it was your son or daughter in jail who would decide to jump not only that but it would also be a protective matter just in cause to inmates were to fight one would not get throwin off..I agree with the trying to make it better but put some effort into our city as well people. I'm suprised we even have tourist here out city looks like crap. "

Tents wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:08 AM:

" Tents are just fine for our soldiers. Why not prisoners? It works great in Arizona. Ship them all there. "

Citizen wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:16 AM:

" You can save the county a LOT OF MONEY by going to the hardward store and buying spray on oil. Put it all over the grate/fencing and nobody can climb it. Make oiling the thing a weekly/daily job for inmates. This will save a lot of money and maybe even lives. "

thaWALLS wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:33 AM:

" I'm sorry the walls are to hard,the inmates might run into them if the batteries in the remote run low. "

Re: Whiners wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:41 AM:

" I complain about the new jail because I spent a year in the old one and it suited me just fine. Haven't been back since. If you want to see a real jail check out the one in the basement of the Columbia County courthouse. I was in there for a stretch and I can tell you THAT is a jail. Never went back there either... "

bluE wrote on Apr 16, 2008 1:18 PM:

" run an electric fence line down them.

or razor wire, seems like razor wire works up state why wouldnt it here?

whats up with all the money that went into the design of this thing, maybe some of you folks should be paying a visit to jail yourself eh?

i think this is just a new way to milk tax payers. "

Ha ha ha wrote on Apr 16, 2008 1:46 PM:

" Freakin Monkeys! "

FROGGY wrote on Apr 16, 2008 1:49 PM:

" I would think that the poeple who planed the building of the jail would have thought about this prblem before they had built the darn thing!!!! "

Tex from Cougar wrote on Apr 16, 2008 2:09 PM:

" We need to protect these prisoners and do everyhting we can, else the county (AKA we, the taxpayers) will get sued every which way. I don't like it either, but the better the conditions for these punks, the less of a chance of the taxpayers having to pay after being sued for their injuries or escapes. These dollars would be better served fighting meth and pedohiles, but we need to address this MAJOR problem now. "

To:Wifey wrote on Apr 16, 2008 2:44 PM:

" I was a road cop for a lot of years here and I have "taken down" many unruly individuals before they were prisoners without the benefit of a barrier. I also worked for several years as a deputy sheriff in two different jail facilities in another state.
I have observed the laziness and inefficiency first hand many times at the Cowlitz County jail. You can take all of the offense that you want, but it still doesn't alter the facts. "

Another Wife of a Corrections Officer wrote on Apr 16, 2008 2:57 PM:

" I agree with "Wife of a Corrections Officer". Our husbands don't have the easiest job. Have you ever worked at a daycare and tried to reteach the kids manners?? Well pretty much it's like a daycare, but they are grown adults that don't know how to act in sociey. The screen will help keep our husbands safe while dealing with all the crazies! "

porkbarrel county wrote on Apr 16, 2008 3:51 PM:

" was in Monroe once and I can tell you those cell blocks are a hell of alot higher than what the pic shows and and there were no screens there in the big house, so we must have some real wing nuts living here , or it's over kill and some stupid idea, which I tend to believe is true .
yes people wre thrown off the top tier
IN A PRISON RIOT , and the cops were shooting too. "

Tazer Baby wrote on Apr 16, 2008 4:53 PM:

" You gotta spend money to make money, right? "

Think about it wrote on Apr 16, 2008 5:35 PM:

" Why couldn't they put the screen up the railing 10', the right back to the wall of the outside cell wall. There is no need to go all the way to the ceiling. "

in the know wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:59 PM:

" I believe this was originally in the plan of the new jail but (as usual) due to citizen protest over the costs items were cut. These were necessary items and we are paying for them now! Treatment is an option, but when someone breaks a law they deserve punishment. Yes this new jail may seem plush compared to tents - do you want to pay the lawsuit for cruel treatment to the poor sex offender that falls and becomes disabled? Our system doesn't work well, but we all try to make it work as best we can. In general county workers try very hard to spend tax payor money wisely. Give us all a break and a little bit of support. You try to deal with these rude, crazy people day in and day out. "

Howie wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:10 PM:

" We are filling jails with non violent drug users when we need treatment facilities. Treatment not jails will be the only thing that will prevent the revolving door to jail. "

Wow wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:58 PM:

" Gee, all our government officials should just read these blogs and everything would be solved. Wow, it's amazing how everything from water, sewer, police, fire, ambulance, streets, and now jails are all screwed up according to the blogs. Why don't all you asses who blog here apply for some jobs and fix everything - obviously you are all SO qualified. Woops, I just vomited in my mouth a little... "

Geno wrote on Apr 16, 2008 10:16 PM:

" Wives-if your husbands jobs are so awful, maybe they need to get an education and do something more suitable to you. I've been a CO and there are much worse jobs out there. The COs that think the inmates are scumbags treat them like scum and they have a hard time with the job. "

Wondering wrote on Apr 16, 2008 10:38 PM:

" If, as Oliver Wendell Holmes once said,"Taxes are the price we pay for civilization", I really wonder what kind of civilization the "whiners" would have us live in. I wonder whether they would like to live in the civilization for which they are willing to pay. Frankly, I doubt it. "

TDN ignores facts wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:00 AM:

" There is a certain incident that prompted this action and TDN is ignoring the facts of that incident. Great reporting! "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:14 AM:

" This may sound a bit cold but, I feel little sympathy for the plight of Corrections Officers. They did know the job risks going into their CHOOSEN field of employ. What next? Crying when a Firefighter gets burned? Sure, I'm all for keeping or law enforcers and firefighters as safe as possible, however, I looked closely at the picture supplied by TDN and, I don't see any professional basketball players capable of that kind of vertical leap. Overkill. "

RE: Amazed by ignorance. wrote on Apr 17, 2008 11:35 AM:

" We don't want sympathy. This is after all the career we have CHOSEN. The decision to build this fence was made by the County Commissioners along with the Department Director after an incident of an inmate jumping off the second tier. It is an attempt to save money from potential future law-suits resulting from other inmates "falling" and has little to do with officer safety. And for your information, the picture shows one of the two areas which already have the higher fence installed. There are 5 other areas which only have 4 foot fences. Believe me, us CO's had no say in the addition of the new fencing. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Apr 18, 2008 7:54 AM:

" Thanks for the typo corrections. My observations concerning CO safety, were in response to some of the posts on the story. As for the "vertical leap" comment I left? That was intended to address the implication that anyone could leap that high to latch onto on of those rafters. Impossible from flat ground. I highly doubt they could do it from a round railing. As for lawsuits? I don't see that as a reality, either. A jail, isn't a McDonalds. If an inmate is injured by his/her own actions/stupidity. there's not a judge in the land that'd take a lawsuit seriously. "

Corrections Officer's Wife wrote on Apr 18, 2008 11:07 AM:

" So, you show your complete ignorance by stating that Corrections Officers have no education? My husband has two degrees thank you very much. He chose this profession because he loves it and because he is great at it. Also, it takes on average seven months to complete the hiring process as it is the same as a police officer. They have to go through a 30 page background check, lie detector, psych eval, numerous interviews, doctor physicals, physical and written tests, etc. Yes, I want the fence there so that my husband is more protected, not because he doesn't know how to do his job, and certaintly not because he is "uneducated!" Spend a day in his shoes and your opinion will most certaintly change. Also, stop showing your ignorance! "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Apr 18, 2008 7:43 PM:

" Excuse you, Mrs. COwife. I never once mentioned education. Nor did I mention that they didn't know how to do their jobs. Have a nice day. "

Mrs. Co Wife wrote on Apr 19, 2008 10:28 AM:

" I was referring to Geno....have a nice day. "

RE: Amazed by ignorance. wrote on Apr 19, 2008 11:14 AM:

" It is true that no judge would ever rule in favor of such a frivolous lawsuit, but we would still have to spend money and time defending ourselves in such a suit (and often do). We would also have to foot the bill for the inmate's medical expenses and the security while he is being treated at the hospital. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Apr 19, 2008 12:36 PM:

" God Bless America and it's sue happy mentality. No way to escape it. "

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