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County finishes moving female inmates to old jail

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 11:40 PM PST

By Leslie Slape

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As of Oct. 27, the new Cowlitz County Jail building is inhabited exclusively by men, while the old jail on the third floor of the Hall of Justice is for women only.

Moving the women back to the old lockup across Third Avenue increases the total available beds 16 percent and allows jail staff the room to separate quarreling inmates, County Corrections Director Marin Fox Hight said earlier this week. She said it also allows staff to move inmates to other areas while protective screens are being installed on the balcony-like tiers of the new jail.

Moving the women “opens up space over here,” said Fox, whose office is in the new building. “We’re also adding bunks to increase our bed space” from 306 to 356.

Splitting the population was the plan from the beginning, Hight said. The new, $13.5 million facility opened in summer 2006.

Before making the move the old jail had to be repaired and painted, and it took a while to fill the nine additional staff positions that the county approved a couple of years ago, she said.

With beds for 356 men and 180 women, she expects it will be a long time before the jail suffers the overcrowding problems of past years that forced police to cite and release misdemeanor suspects.

“There are no caps, no booking restrictions, and we don’t anticipate any,” Hight said. “We still take any criminal citation. The numbers have dropped off; we had a surge when we first opened with all those warrants,” referring to a list of 5,800 outstanding misdemeanor warrants The Daily News published in October 2006.

She said there are a few kinks to work out, but the transition in general has been smooth.

“I haven’t heard complaints from inmates as of yet,” Hight said. “It might be a little easier for them. We can split them up a little more when there’s not as many females in one area. Women have a few more ‘getting along’ issues.”

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mom of four wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:09 AM:

" That's great that they haven't had any complaints. I wouldn't want the criminal to feel uncomfortable. Do they get bed in breakfast too? "

loudly wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:25 AM:

" Hey mom of four, I was really intoxicated the last time I posted. I had always made a point of not posting when drinking! I messed up and if you read my last diatribe, you'd know why. I suggest you do the same! Local inmate's shouldn't be too crowded. But I agree that they should'nt be comfortable either. "

orcinas wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:57 AM:

" "Bed" does not mean "bunk." These people are stacked in like chordwood, all the while Corrections says they need more officers. I'm tired of the sentiment that criminals are somehow not people. Real criminals go to prison, not jail, and the people in jail are usually there for 30-60 days for DUIs and the like. While I don't condone criminal behavior and breaking the law, I think there would be less repeat offenders if we treated people with a certain degree of humanity. I would rather be at Guantanamo Bay than Cowlitz County. "

skibowlruler wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:50 AM:

" if i remember correctly its bed in breakfast alrite... if ya can wake up that early... and female inmates...... thats hot "

really wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:32 AM:

" To "Orcinas" sounds like you've been a guest at Cowlitz County. I'm pretty sure that you would not thing Guantanamo Bay is better or Clark or Lewis County. You get TV at Cowlitz jail to pass that time while not committing real crimes. Just to remind you, real criminals do go to jail, not just prison. DUI is a real crime believe it or not. People can actually die/ or be hurt for life by people who drink and drive. Same thing for those people who accidentally use and sell drugs, they also can hurt people. Oh and those ones who steal your stuff, that's the crime too. You really think that if the facilities had plush surroundings and beds not bunks that people would be less likely to re-offend? It's the same "jail mentality" that gets people in jail. People break the law, if we treat them to a four star hotel type jail, then of course they wouldn't come back. They would become law abiding citizens. That is the kind of logic that keeps the jails full. People who don't re-offend are people who want to help themselves and realize that breaking the law probably wasn't such a good idea. Most of the people who break the law cry about it, and continue to blame the police, their attorneys etc for them landing in jail. If you don't break the law you no problem. "

Roudyruss wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:52 AM:

" If you don't get up and get your breakfast you are locked down and then fed nutraloaf, a nasty meal of about 30 ingredients all blended together. Why isn't there an equal number of beds for men and women? Women committ just as many crimes as men. Sounds like gender discrimination to me. "

cynic954 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 10:15 AM:

" Orcinas; like waterboarding do you. "

Mike wrote on Nov 20, 2008 10:29 AM:

" roudyruss... you've got to be kidding me, buddy. First of all, women DON'T commit as many crimes as men. Hence the reason there are so many more men in jail. Quit crying gender discrimination.. it's kind of hard to do when it's factual.

Second of all.. you too sound like you've spent a day or two in the Cowlitz County Jail. Obviously not for a couple of years though. The use of Nutraloaf was discontinued about 2 1/2 years ago. Furthermore, why should't you receive disciplinary action for not waking up to get your breakfast? Do you not have to wake up to get fed when you're NOT in jail? The fact remains, when you're in jail you need to be accounted for. Getting up to get your breakfast ensures you're alive and healthy. Besides, it's not going to kill you. "

Roudyruss wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:14 AM:

" I've done LOTS of time mike, and where did you get the idea that I was complaining about being diciplined for not getting up? I have no problems with the jail just the fact that if you compare a mans sentence to a womans with the same crime, history and such, the woman will get less or no time at all. By the way you are not my buddy, son. "

Mike wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:23 AM:

" RoudyRuss... and I quote, "Why isn't there an equal number of beds for men and women? Women committ just as many crimes as men. Sounds like gender discrimination to me."... that sounds like complaining to me. "

DUH wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:30 AM:

" I agree Roudyruss. Women want equal pay for equal work, then they should also get equal time for equal crimes. "

PanDering wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:41 AM:

" Oh for Pete's sake. Separation of certain kinds of criminals is essential. Separating the sick and healthy (what's the STD numbers???), as well as separating the men from the women seems to me like it prevents a lot of other problems. Also there is a pretty high percentage of people in jail waiting for a trial, that are only under suspicion of committing a crime. Jails should be humane separation. "

mom of four wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:35 PM:

" loudly: Why should I do the same? I don't drink, and I sure in the hell don't go to jail. I don't think they should be crowded but I don't think they have the right to complain either. If someone in jail needs to complain it should be them complaining about their own stupitidy. Also, real criminals do go to jail. Jail is not for the homeless to get fed, take a shower and get to sleep. So, jail is a place for criminals. "

mom of four wrote on Nov 20, 2008 2:34 PM:

" orcinas: Also, just to point another thing out for you...do you not think the woman who kidnapped her grandchild is a criminal? and the people who robbed the liquor store, the ones who robbed radio shack and then tryed to return the idems the next day? btw, it was all the same person. nope not a "real" criminal. Oh and the man that is awaiting trial for murder he is sitting in jail and there is more then enough evidence stating that he did it. So, you might want to rethink what you find a criminal is. Here is some websites to reserch that for you....http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-Address&rlz=1I7DKUS&defl=en&q=define:criminal&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title "

bones wrote on Nov 20, 2008 3:51 PM:

" Sounds like orcinas has either spent some time in Cowlitz or any county jail or is close to someone who has. Yes some of the population is made up of people who are serving for DUI (REPEAT DUI'S) or drug charges (REPEATED DRUG CHARGES)...so don't feel bad for "them"! You can serve up to a year in the county jail...which is usually for serious crimes. Inmates are still human but sorry....with no priveledges and room for complaint! Our country is WAY TOO easy on criminals as it is! Go to another country and then try complaining here! "

tatman wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:23 PM:

" if the jails are full, too bad, sleep on top of each other. maybe this will deter you from being a criminal,a drunk driver, etc.. better yet they should put up a tent city like in arizona, grow most of your food, and bring back the chain gang. if your there for more then a couple days then you should be earning your keep. also one other thought is take away the tv and other rewards for the bunch, your a criminal, and your getting what you deserve. let the crying begin.LOL "

mom of four wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:44 PM:

" tatman: I agree 100% with you bring the chain gang back! and we should have them living in tents instead of our tax dollers being spent to make sure they have a remodeled home! "

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