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Leaks. Mold. Cell Doors That Don’t Work. Commissioner Describes ‘Unacceptable’ Conditions In Escambia Jail.
February 23, 2022
Unacceptable.
That’s how Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh described what he found during a three hour tour of the Escambia County Jail.
The old jail and annex were built in 1981 and 1984 respectively but still house prisoners in addition to the new jail that opened last year. In the older facilities, Bergosh said he observed mold growing on walls and ceilings, cracked windows, and leaks that have been repaired with tarps that catch water before it is drained away with a hose.
“It just appears to me there has been a tremendous lack of maintenance,” Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon. “Windows shattered, never replaced. Fixtures pulled off the wall, not repaired. A sink running for a year, hot water up to a year, I’ve been told by multiple sources. A ticket has been put in and closed out while the issue hasn’t been solved. They said it’s not a leak, if it’s not leaking out of a sink.”
“There’s a lot of issues that I think are self-inflicting on that facility, and it’s very disappointing to see it. But we are going to see if we can inspire quick movement on it.”
The commissioner noted that most of the areas that have significant flooding in the older jail buildings are no longer occupied. But he said several areas with leaks are occupied by prisoners, and it is leaking in an employee break room.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done over there and we need to make it a top priority. That’s what my intention is, to make it a top priority.”
Bergosh said the problems he found were not limited to the older buildings. One of the three elevators in the new facility has not worked for weeks, he said. Several pods, or housing areas, in the new jail are not open due to staffing issues.
There has been discussion in recent days about returning control of the jail from Escambia County back to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. But first, he said repairs must be made.
“I wouldn’t want to hand him (the sheriff) a lighted stick of dynamite, which is akin to what that would be,” Bergosh stated. “He’s gonna have to deal with the same issues we are. He doesn’t have a facility staff. His facility staff is the county’s facility staff. We maintain his range, his building. So I think that’s a separate question. I think what we’ve got to do is get our own house in order.”
The ultimate solution the commissioner suggested is to hire a firm to determine what areas of the old jail buildings can be salvaged, then demolish the rest.
“Then we’ve got to come up with funding for the expansion of the new jail.”
Bergosh said he will begin holding discussions with staff on Wednesday.
“The blame has to fall on us — the elected commissioners. We have to own it,” Bergosh wrote on his blog.
“Bottom line is, whatever it takes, we’ve got to fix it,” Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com.
Bergosh provided NorthEscambia.com with photographs of multiple pages of maintenance problems posted within the old jail — dozens of leaks, loose bunks, toilets that will not flush, lights that are out. There are even multiple cell doors listed that will not open or close. Because the lists we obtained contain cell numbers and their locations within the jail, NorthEscambia.com has chosen not to publish them to avoid any security concerns.
Contributed photos by Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
31 Responses to “Leaks. Mold. Cell Doors That Don’t Work. Commissioner Describes ‘Unacceptable’ Conditions In Escambia Jail.”
I guess none is gone mention how the old CBD exploded?? People can say what they won’t but everyone makes mistakes.. Unless it’s under the circumstances of abusing a child.. And a few other.. I was there as an inmate when the jail exploded.. I was an inmate worker.. There had been a gas leak years before.. the county would come test and check.. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.. None cares simply because we was on the wrong side of the law.. It’s all bout $$ that could obviously be used to better the conditions of the jail.. I fully believe that if you break the law you should pay.. But I don’t believe that anyone should be put in such unsafe conditions.. I lost a very close friend/family in the explosion.. If your not a child molester or such then I honestly don’t believe anyone deserves to go through this
The jail has been in this condition for years. It’s time for someone to do something, for the staff and especially for the prisoners who can’t leave or escape the hell.
I would inform the inmates that they had passed into eternity and that the horrible conditions were simply the decor and atmosphere of Hell.
Nothing to worry about.
So far, I have only seen one person mention the civilians working alongside the COs (Dentition assistants) and that’s a fellow comment. Yes, the jail is in deplorable condition, there is black mold everywhere, nothing works. While I (as a DA) agree that the COs do deserve way more than they get because I see everything they have to put up with daily. We as DAs deserve more as well, because we aren’t trained for this and we are taken advantage of. we are run into the ground because there are so few of us and we are put at risk everyday, without the training. We know how important our job is which is why we do it, but no one talks about us or the concern for us When COs would be even more screwed without us.
lets not also forget to mention, as I’ve seen some people do, the PTO accrues too slowly, there is no maternity leave, we are only allowed 6 scheduled days off a year and obviously you don’t qualify for FMLA for 12 months.. so if you’ve been here under that and have something happen (like have a baby for instance) you’re screwed.
something really needs to be done, before they lose all their staff, COs and DAs included
BINGO!!!! @Anonymous….sounds like you HIT the nail on the head. Too bad County Politicians don’t read, comment or pay attention and use those things we comment on that are important issues pertaining to the people and taxpayers of THIS county.
Chief Powell and other top jail admin staff should be forced to retire or be fired. work there. The place is a living hell. The general public wouldn’t believe what actually goes on in there. If I Could wear a camera and show what a CO sees and hears every grueling 12 hr. shift there’d be people in the streets.
Obey the law.
Pay better wages for the staff.
Don’t waste tax payers cash on a big firm to point out the obvious.
1. UNSAFE STAFFING LEVELS, NOT FOLLOWING SAFE STAFFING POLICY
2. HIGH TURNOVER STAFFING DUE TO MORALE NOT COVID 19
3. LACK OF/AND NO CLEANING SUPPLIES
4. AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC PROPER STEPS AND PPE EQUIPMENT WERE NOT FOLLOWED PER JAIL POLICY, CDC. INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT IE: PPE JUMPSUITS THAT DID NOT FIT TALL AND LARGE AVERAGE SIZE OFFICERS, THEY TORE EASILY AND ZIPPERS BROKE, LARGE GARBAGE BAG PONCHO STYLE THAT DID NOT PROTECT THE WHOLE OFFICER. OFFICERS WERE TOLD TO REUSE THE PPE EQUIPMENT OVER AND OVER. UNSAFE AND UNSANITARY PROCEDURE.
5. FEBRUARY-JUNE 2020 NO MASKS WERE SUPPLIED OR OFFERED TO STAFF WORKING ON THE INMATE FLOORS AMIDST QUARANTINED SICK COVID POSITIVE INMATES.
6. MASKS WERE FIRST DISTRIBUTED JULY 1, 2020. WHEN A MASK WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH EMPLOYEE, WE WERE TOLD THAT ONE MASK HAD TO LAST THE WHOLE MONTH, THE FIRST MASK WAS HANDED OUT JULY 1,2020. WHEN AUAGUST 1, 2020 CAME AROUND THEY DID NOT HAVE MASKS TO GIVE STAFF WHEN ASKED FOR THEIR NEW MONTHLY MASK. THE SAME SUPERVISORS THAT TOLD US MASKS WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH. THESE MASKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCARDED AFTER EACH USE OR AT THE VERY LEAST EACH DAY.
7. NO LEAVE/PTO IS ALLOWED.
8. DOR’S (DAY OF REST) WAS NOT ALLOWED
9. ONE (1) OFFICER WORKING A THREE OFFICER POST. SEVERAL POSTS OPERATING WITH ONLY ONE OFFICER. RESPONSE TIME WHEN THERE WAS ANY SIGNALS CALLED WAS SLOW AND SOMETIMES CALLED MORE THAN ONCE.
10. CIVILIANS WORKING NEXT TO OFFICERS THAT HAVE CONTACT WITH COVID 19 INMATES
11. NO BREAKS, 15 MINUTE 30 MINUTE LUNCH AND 15 BREAKS IN A 12 HOUR SHIFT, SOMETIMES A N 18 HOUR SHIFT
12. FACILITY NOT BEING CLEANED
13. NO HOT OR WARM WATER FOR STAFF TO WASH THEIR HANDS
14. NOT BEING RELIEVED ON TIME DUE TO NO/SHORT STAFFING
15. INSECTS AND SPILLED FOOD REMNANTS THROUGHOUT THE HALLWAYS.
16. SEWAGE OVERFLOW AND LEAKS ON CEILINGS AND INTO THE HALLWAYS
17. NO CUSTODIAL WORKERS
18. ALL 11 MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS QUIT BECAUSE OF ABUSIVE MH DIRECTOR, LEAVING NO MHC.
19. SUPERVISORS TELLING THE CO’S TO PICK THEIR BATTLES DUE TO STAFF
I don’t recall anyone ever saying that prisoners deserve anything free, but everyone has the right to live in clean, mold free conditions and have basic human rights, even while incarcerated!
There is NO excuse for this, not even if you think it’s okay for people to be held in these conditions. Allowing county property to decline is more costly to the people in the end. What happened to the maintenance funds? Why hasn’t the Escambia County BOCC not been utilizing the closed bidding process more often to make sure that the people are getting the most out of their tax dollars!!!
Utilizing the closed bidding process will also help limit diversion of county funds to the Good ol’boys!
First of all. DO NOT Hire a firm to come in and tell you what needs to be done. We already pay people that have not be doing their jobs. Fire everyone that dropped the ball. Second the inmates maybe in jail and not staying at the Hilton. But come on they are humans also. Let the inmates help clean it up and fix some of these problems. Stop blowing tax payers money like it is yours. I blame these problems on Commissioners for not doing their jobs.
I agree with retired CO. prisoners should be made to work to keep their environment up. everyone thinks they are entitled to freebies and a good life. If I decide to clog up my toilet, I have to clean it up. !!! Why should someone else rush in and do the dirty work for prisoners? After they get their hands messy a couple of times, they would learn their lesson.
kinda miss Bill Cross don’t we
The county would not have been forced into the largest single expenditure in it’s history if the arrogant commissioners had listened to the Former Sheriff, who practically begged them to not rebuild the facilities in the CBD basement after the initial flood and rightly predicted it flooding again just a few years later. The county budget manager said that’s why we have insurance, when it turned out that the county routinely underinsured it’s properties. That new facility only replaced the beds that were in the CBD. At the time of the explosion, the county had committed to a multi-million dollar plan to address the issues in Phase I, but both the plan and the money disappeared afterword. This is a systemic problem that goes back decades and a fresh coat of paint and a few tubes of caulk are not going to fix. The BOCC and Jail Managers have failed the citizens of this county by fostering a hostile climate towards employees, who are fleeing in record numbers and new employees are not forthcoming. The entire situation is FAR more critical than anybody knows.
With the conditions at the Escambia county jail and with the jail being over 100 officers short. Every county commissioner should be voted out and Chief Powell should be terminated. Chief Powell any every county commissioners have known about these issues for a long time, do not let them fool you. There have been meetings and discussions about this for quite some time. This is been a long growing issue and will not be corrected with your current administration.
When a maintenance ticket is assigned the individual doing the work is allotted so much time for each type of issue. If it take less time they get to go sit around the remainder of the time. So the corrections/repairs may take all of 4 hours, but are allotted for 7-8 hours of work time. The Maintenance employee gets to just hide out the rest of their shift. That’s how that good ol’ County stuff works. This has been like this for over a decade. Talk about wasted resources and funding.
And this is suppose to be a Florida Corrections Accreditation “Excelsior Agency”. Check out the bullet points on that website “A safer and more humane environment for personnel and inmates.” Chief Powell has only been worried about adding more accolades to his resume. He’s definitely not one to listen to his subordinates or has characteristics of true leadership. These issues come as no surprise for YEARS. It’s about time that attention is paid to such poor conditions.
It’s a simple fix with very little budget involved. The things like leaks and mold can be addressed through local businesses and handled quickly if the county will get off of its butt. The cleanup, paint work and other things can be taken care of through the prison camp. They have a road crew cleaning up roads, now get a jail crew to clean up the jail. They did the crimes, this is a great way to pay restitution back to the county. Local fixes, labor that’s already being housed and fed right up the street! Problem solved if the county will use their resources properly!
Having worked at CBD, Main Jail & New Jail I am sorry I don’t have any faith in the County or Powell. You have no idea how much mold is really in that place. The whole place is filled with it. New paint job can hide a lot. Just my opinion but Powell is a yes man who surrounds himself with yes men & women. People working at that jail know if your opinion differs from Powells you better keep it to yourself or you will end up with a bullseye on your back. Never have I worked under a more stressful atmosphere. People working and living in the Jail in these unsafe conditions while Powell gives the County back $4 million that could have been used to fix some of the problems. This is one of the rumors we were hearing as to why Powell keeps his job while the place falls apart and people are leaving in droves.
@CATMAN, the new jail can’t hold the total number of beds that are needed. Having two facilities is required at this time.
Don’t blame the inmates for lack of maintenance. And stop trying to mete out extra punishment because you like to crap on them.
If a building leaks, it’s the fault of the county. Not spending money on routine maintenance costs the taxpayers more.
Well we’ll well- the chickens are coming home to roost. The trail leads all the way downtown, to the commissioners and the former county administrator. This includes the former head of facilities maintenance, as well as the supervisors at facilities. They got rid of the two scapegoats but there is still plenty of blame to go around. I worked for the county for the better part of a decade and have seen this pattern play out over & over again. The ” powers that be” will use smoke & mirrors to deflect blame onto others and make you think they had no idea what was going on as well as tell you they are going to spend money( tax dollars) so someone else can ” advise” them on what to do, but that will be drawn out for so long, they count on you forgetting about it.
@Shay, keep in mind that many of the prisoners at the county jail are still awaiting trial, meaning that they have been charged, but not yet convicted of any crime. Not everyone can afford to make bail and be free while they await a verdict. The only ones “sentenced” to county jail are those whose crimes/convictions are that they will serve less than a year… anything more than that is transferred into the state prison system.
The conditions are acceptable for prisoners. They deserve to punished and the comfy conditions of most prisons are likely the reason why they come out and reoffend again and again. However, the employees should not have to work in that environment and the tax payers shouldn’t pay for hot water leaking.
I THOUGHT THE PUSH FOR NEW JAIL TO GET EVERY ONE OUT OF OLD ONE.WHY THEY STILL THERE. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MOVED FIRST!!
NO, don’t hire a firm to tell you anything…. Spend that $$$ on fixing the problem. You have hired county maintenance crews that can tell you what is salvageable. Hire a contractor to fix these issues now before we have to pay a lawyer and a suit is filed for health issues.
This is horrible. Makes me sick to my stomach just looking at it. How does something like this go un-notice? Are people walking around with blinders on? Or too lazy to do something about it. Hope something is done about it, like bulldoze the building down?
What’s going on with the funding for the jail, has there not been any maintenance funds allocated? If so, where did they go? There’s absolutely no excuse for this building to be in such poor condition, being less than 40 yrs old!!!
WHO IS AUDITING ESCAMBIA COUNTY AND WHERE’S THE MONEY GOING?
It comes down to money. Things need to be fixed every day. Just patching over it will work sometime. But most time you got to get in there an do it right.,
Then you thrown in the element of self destructive people that are being housed all together with more of the same. Those types think nothing of flooding a floor of the complex and setting fire to a mattress to cause damage. Then they can complain about the conditions on how horrible it is. Well stop breaking it and also, STOP BREAKING THE D LAW
This is absolutely deplorable!!! Prisoners deserve being in jail…but they don’t deserve living under these conditions. Whoever signed off the tickets as being repaired, when they weren’t, should be reprimanded and put into their personnel folder. We don’t and wouldn’t live in these conditions so why should we expect prisoners to live like this??? Leaking hot water costs taxpayers plenty of money, just as it does in our own homes. Heads should roll for allowing this to continue for this length of time. There’s ABSOLUTELY no reason for it.
If you give the jail back to the ECSO he will spend the money on law enforcement first, just like all the others did!!!!!!!!!
If you could make the inmates, held accountable, when they break windows, doors, over flow toilets/sinks ETC.
You could cut cost some by serving, jail house meat loaf, 3 times a day. It is jail NOT THE HILTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently the director of the jail has failed. Officers leaving for other agencies, forced overtime, and unsafe conditions for the officers. Time for a change.