Thursday, November 29, 2007

A cautionary note


Bexar county is looking at implementing a tent jail to ease overcrowding and to save money. It would be similar to the program run in Arizona by the Maricopa County Sheriff.

Of course problems and lawsuits have followed out there which appear to be overlooked by those rushing to show how tough they can be on crime, while short changing the security of the system, and crowing about how much money they are saving.

This short article ought to, but probably won't, give them pause.

Good luck on security if you build a tent jail.


Jail employee accused of dealing drugs to inmates

Selena Hernandez: KENS 5 Eyewitness News

Authorities say a Bexar County Jail employee was caught dealing drugs and cell phones to inmates. Bexar County Sheriff's investigators say 21-year-old Danielle Escalera, a medical assistant in the jail, was providing inmates with cocaine, marijuana and cell phones.

"We've traced some numbers back on that cell phone to a non-uniformed employee, one of the civilian employees who has access to the jail," said Brian Menges, the jail's administration director.

Jail administrators say a tip led them to Escalera and the discovery of a flawed internal system.
"The last few days, we've intensified the shakedowns," said Col. Earl Griffin, an assistant jail administrator. "Now that we're realizing that these items are getting in by staff members, we're going to step up our searches of their bags and things like that."

More at the link:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA112807.jail.kens.4c9d4b36.html