DOJ Report: Escambia Jail Unsafe, Understaffed
May 23, 2013
A report released by the U.S. Justice Department has found that conditions inside the Escambia County Jail routinely violate the constitutional rights of prisoners.
The DOJ concluded that known systemic deficiencies at the jail, mainly due to staffing shortages, continue to subject prisoners to excessive risk of assault by other prisoners and to “clearly inadequate” mental health care.
The five-year investigation also found that until recently, the jail had an informal policy and practice of designating some of its housing units as only for African-American prisoners. By segregating some of its prisoners on the basis of race, the jail not only stigmatized and discriminated against many of its African-American prisoners, it also fanned combustible racial tensions within the jail.
Escambia County Sheriff’ David Morgan has warned the Escambia County Commission about the woeful conditions in the facility, which houses roughly 1,300 prisoners. His recently submitted 2013-2014 budget request to the commission includes a request for an $18.8 million increase. A portion of the increase was specifically requested to hire 83 additional detention deputies along with 12 detention assistants for $6.3 million.
The beginning of the DOJ investigation coincided with Morgan taking office, and the report praised his efforts to improve conditions.
“We commend Sheriff Morgan for his willingness to work aggressively to remedy many of the problems brought to his attention during the course of our investigation,” said Roy L. Austin Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division.
Some of Morgan’s improvements included the implementation of a formal prisoner classification system, improvements in monitoring the use of force, development of a prisoner grievance process, increase use of surveillance cameras, retrofitting cells to decrease suicide risk, improvements to female housing, addressing the needs of prisoners with physical disabilities and improved medical procedures.
But the DOJ’s report still found numerous issues, many related to inadequate staffing.
The report found:
- Prisoner on prisoner assaults are a common occurrence at the jail, making the facility unsafe for prisoners.
- A March 2011 study gave county officials insight to the severe staffing problems at the facility.
- Jail leadership fails to appropriately monitor and track prisoner on prisoner violence and the use of force by staff on prisoners.
- The decades-long practice of housing some prisoners in black-only pods was discriminatory, fanned racial tensions and contributed to prisoner perceptions that the jail favors white prisoners over black prisoners. The practice ended in 2012.
- The jail does not provide adequate and timely access to appropriately skilled mental health professionals, routinely fails to provide appropriate mental health medications, and provides inadequate housing and observation for prisoners with serious mental illness. The report found about one prisoner per month is sent to the hospital after self-injury as a result of a clearly inadequate mental health program.
“Without an adequate complement of security personnel, (the) Escambia County Jail cannot possibly keep its prisoners safe,” the report found.”Until the Jail addresses staffing shortages, the Jail will remain unsafe.”
Additionally, staffing shortages have crippled the jail’s ability to conduct a sufficient number of cell searches to protect both prisoners and staff from serious harm due to contraband and potentially dangerous items. According to the DOJ, only 41 cell searches were conducted across the entire facility during a one year period.
The sheriff and county have 49 days to reach an agreement with the Department of Justice on how they plan to correct the staffing and additional issues at the jail. If no agreement is reached by the deadline, the Attorney General may file a federal lawsuit.
Escambia County Names New Lake Stone Caretaker
May 23, 2013
The Escambia County Commission has named a new caretaker for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the county has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker and management services at the facility. Mervyn Simmons, who has served as the caretaker since February 2009, has submitted his resignation.
He will be replaced by Dennis Keith Cole under the same contract terms. Cole will be compensated at $850 per month with housing and utilities provided.
Local Home Sales Sluggish Compared To Statewide Rate
May 23, 2013
Statewide single-family home sales are up 17.4 percent from a year ago, Florida Realtors reported Wednesday, while single-family home sales saw more sluggish growth in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 20,662 in April, with 477 closed sales in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, up just 4.8 percent over a year ago. The average sales price locally was $144,950, almost steady from last year. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $165,000, up 14.2 percent from the previous year.
Townhouse and condo sales outpaced the state average, up 30 percent in April over a year ago. The state average was up 13.6 percent.
Florida Realtors chief economist John Tuccillo credited the sales increases to a stabilization of the distressed property market with the number of short sales dropping, while foreclosures and real estate owned property sales remaining steady. “Because the government is selling foreclosed properties in bulk and also using online auctions, our sales numbers actually understate the vigor of the market,” Tuccillo said in a Realtors’ news release.
Northview Chiefs Announce 2013 Football Schedule
May 23, 2013
The state champion Northview High School Chiefs have released their 2013 football schedule.
The schedule begins with a Preseason Classic game on August 23 against 5-A Panama City Bay. The Chiefs will also face 4-A Marianna, 6-A Choctawhatchee and 4-A Defuniak Springs Walton.
District games (in bold below) will be against Jay, Freeport and Baker. Homecoming is October 18 against Freeport.
Highway 164 Signs: You’re Awesome Sandra
May 23, 2013
Handmade signs lined Highway 164 just off Highway 29 Wednesday, and balloons were flying from many mailboxes — prompting several readers to contact us and ask why.
The signs were lining the route home for Sandra Morris of McDavid, diagnosed with cancer on October 4, 2012. On Wednesday, she completed her final round of chemo. Friends and relatives, part of “Team Sandra” planned the special welcome home.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Indicted On Federal Firearm Charges
May 23, 2013
An Escambia County man was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for six sales of firearms to convicted felons and for dealing in firearms without a license.
Buddy Lamar Redden, 65, was charged in a seven-count indictment announced by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Pamela C. Marsh.
If convicted of dealing in firearms without a license, Redden faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For each count of conviction for sale of a firearm to a convicted
felon, Redden faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Knight.
Escambia County Summer VPK Registration Open
May 23, 2013
The Escambia County School District will offer a Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program at four schools.
Summer VPK is a high quality, developmentally appropriate early learning program that prepares children to be ready for kindergarten. Children who were 4-years of age on or before September 1, 2012, will enter kindergarten in the fall of 2013, and have not attended a VPK program during the 2012-2013 school year are eligible for Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten. Summer VPK will be offered from June 10-August 2, 2013, Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Parents must provide transportation.
Summer VPK will be offered at the following elementary schools:
- Beulah
- Blue Angels
- Holm
- Pine Meadow
Parents must receive a Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition located at 3636 D North “L” Street prior to registering their child at the school site. Parents will need to bring the following documents to registration:
- Child’s Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- Immunization Record
- Physical
- Photo ID of parent registering the child
- Proof of residency (within 90 days)
For additional information, call (850) 595-6915 extension 227.
Escambia Academy Class Of 2013 Graduates
May 23, 2013
The Escambia Academy Class of 2013 graduated Thursday night at the school’s Bachelor Field in Canoe, Ala.
The Cougar’s valedictorian was Caitlyn Elizabeth Bruley and salutatorian was Elizabeth Page Lancaster.
Members of the Escambia Academy Class of 2013 are:
- Paige Elizabeth Allen
- David Reid Bell
- Dustin Lee Bishop
- Allison Taylor Brooks
- Caitlyn Elizabeth Bruley
- Andrew Blake Clark
- Alexander Clayton Dall
- Andrew Evan Daughtry
- Hannah Morgan Fountain
- Michael Dwane Glick
- Charity Elizabeth Hacker
- Brandy Michal Helton
- Elizabeth Page Lancaster
- Prentiss Jarrod Leachman Jr.
- Dustin Aaron Mack
- Kelsey Brooke McGhee
- Sydney Lauren McGhee
- Suhag Sevantilal Patel
- Joshua Lawrence Peebles
- Blakeley English Quimby
- Chelsey Lynn Ramer
- Luke Russell Roberson
- Nora Breann Rolin
- Austin Earnest Ryan
- Andrew Jordan Sasser
- TehronDevonteStallworth
- Michael Shane Thompson
- Nicholas Austin Thompson
- James Michael Wimberley
- Sarah Elizabeth Wooten
Pcola Police: 91 Car Burglaries Since May 1; Suspects Arrested
May 23, 2013
There have been 91 car burglaries in the City of Pensacola since May 1, according to Pensacola Police, a three people have been arrested for a few of the burglaries. Most of the vehicles were unlocked.
Treniqua Hollinger, 19, Maurissa Atkins, 20, and Maurice Atkins, 19, were charged with nine vehicle burglaries, one residential burglary and possession of burglary tools. The trio was arrested Wednesday morning and Pensacola Police say there were caught in the act of breaking into a vehicle.
Police are also looking for Tonjas Cornielus Dixon, 20, and Lucas Jenkins, 21, on multiple counts of vehicle burglary, vehicle theft, grand theft, petit theft and credit card fraud.
Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons said one of the easiest ways to prevent vehicle burglaries is to simply lock vehicle doors.
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Dixon or Jenkins is asked to call Pensacola Police at (850) 435-1900 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Atmore Rotary Scholarship Fund Raiser ‘Old Time Fiddler’s Convention’ Canceled
May 23, 2013
The Atmore Rotary Club announced Wednesday that the annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention — a primary fund raiser for the group’s Academic All Stars Program — will not be held in 2013. This year would have been the 33rd annual event.
Organizers said the Academic All-Stars program will continue and will not be impacted by the decision.
The Rotary Club decided to not hold the event this year in order to explore ways to update and improve this event with the goal of increasing event attendance numbers, organizers said.
“This long running event is held close to our hearts as Rotarians, but as with all things, it is good business practice to review event processes and effectiveness, said Atmore Rotary Club President Jennifer Chism. “We want to be proactive and ensure this event can continue to be successful both in terms of exposure and profitability.”
The Old Time Fiddler’s Convention was a primary fund raiser for the Atmore Rotary Club’s Academic All Star Program, which rewards academically successful high school students with recognition of their scholastic achievements through scholarship awards. This year the Rotary Club awarded scholarships to 130 students from Atmore Christian School, Escambia Academy, Escambia County High School and Northview High School.
Pictured top: 2013 Academic All Star scholarship winners from four area high schools at a May 9 program. Pictured inset: Atmore Rotary Club President Jennifer Chism. Pictured below: Randolph B. Luttrell, Sr.Scholarship Winner La’Derious Ty’Shon Franklin of Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
