Howard County jail tour

Fillmore County commissioners, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery, Sheriff John DeGeorge, and Jail Administrator Jamie Fenske toured the Howard County jail on November 2. This new jail is considered to be similar to that which Fillmore County will build, if that is the option the county board chooses. The building inside and out is utilitarian, designed to be basic and functional.

Howard County Sheriff Tim Beckman began the tour in the administrative section of the facility. Howard County recently replaced their jail that was built in the 1880s. The new jail is located across from the courthouse. The facility in 2019 cost about $5 million to build and equip. Beckman explained 63% of the public supported the construction of this new jail through a referendum.

Beckman noted the windows, doors, and drywall are bullet proof. Precast concrete was used for the structure.

The administrative portion of the facility includes the sheriff’s office, chief deputy’s office, investigator’s office, cubicles for eight deputies, and the armory. It also includes the lobby, probation, emergency management, emergency operating center and training room, evidence storage, record storage, civil and jail administration offices, and two interview rooms.

The basement under just a small portion of the facility was a contingency. Beckman said now they are glad they included it; it is used for storage and some artifacts like a cell from the old facility. The facility has about 40 beds. Beckman said they never know what will be needed down the road. They currently average about six inmates. Because of the requirement to separate various classifications of prisoners, they likely would be considered fully occupied with just 20 or so inmates.

Beckman pointed out lockers built into the wall where officers check in evidence; it is a secure locker section in the wall where evidence is checked in and is placed in a locker. Those lockers are connected directly to the evidence processing room to maintain chain of custody.

Every year the sheriff’s office requests bids from local restaurants to provide meals for inmates.

As one enters the facility there is an assistance window, video visitation area and an intake pre-booking area. Also, there are small rooms for  attorney visitation. There is a drive-through secured connected area to the facility used for washing vehicles; this area can provide access for an ambulance. Programmable devices are used to provide secured access throughout the facility.

A secure entryway (sally port) is between the administrative portion and the jail facility itself. The dispatch/control area is in the center basically surrounded by two holding cells, a padded detox cell, two special status cells, eight-bed cell for males, three male maximum security cells, eight-bed female cell, two female maximum security cells, two six-bed cells, and an exercise area. It also has a room with a laundry, inmate issue clothing storage, and inmate property storage.

The dispatch/control area is physically in the center of the jail facility and also is the communication/monitoring center of the working facility.

Each cell has bunks, stainless steel table and stools, stainless steel toilet fixtures and a shower. The floors and walls are all hard surfaces. Each cell door is solid steel with an opening where the inmate can put hands through to be cuffed. There is a sky light in every cell.

Jail Sdministrator/Civil Deputy Jennifer Bauer commented that the new jail system has definitely made their working life better. She said the padded detox cell is the best thing we did; it is a must-have. Special status cells are used for inmates that are sick, have mental issues, or could be suicidal. Dispatch has a window where they can look directly into these cells. One of these cells is on the male side and one is on the female side.

Bauer advised Fillmore County officers to be involved in the placement of cameras in the cells. Outside of the facility is a building which houses the bulk of the technical equipment used for control and communication in this modern facility.