Commission to Report on Women’s Jail

CREST HAVEN — Inmate Laura Clifford will leave the county correctional facility this winter in the same capri shorts, tank top and flip flops she wore when she was arrested at the end of summer.
She told four members of the County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women, who visited the correctional facility in Crest Haven Nov. 14, that in order to get to social services locations, she’ll have to hitchhike because she has no money for bus fare.
Clifford said that she doesn’t even want to think about where she’ll stay her first night of freedom, or how she’ll manage to afford it.
Her predicament isn’t unusual here.
Clifford, a mother of three with no family in this area, is serving a 90-day sentence for third degree aggravated assault. She was just one of five women that volunteered to speak with commission members Kathy Bresan, Deborah Brasch, Felicia Smith and Carlin Graham about their recommendation to improve facilities and programs for female prisoners at the county jail.
At the time of the tour, 37 female prisoners, clad in orange jumpsuits and plastic flip-flops that matched the cell doors, were housed in the facility in a group living environment. Lavatories with two toilets and showers are positioned near the front of the cells and bunk beds line the other side of the concrete walls.
Occasionally the drab orange and grey colors of the walls are broken up by poems or drawings on notebook paper hanging next to an inmate’s bunk.
Privacy is nonexistent.
Toilet paper is a precious commodity and women are constantly making decisions on whether they should spend the remaining money on their commissary accounts for toothpaste or deodorant.
Cold air blows through the cells constantly. The visitors all opted to keep their winter coats fastened about them, while the female inmates made due with long-sleeved shirts, thin white socks and their one-piece jumpsuits.
Warden Richard Harron, who led the guided tour, said that the women’s portion of the prison was built a little more than two years ago. It has 40 beds, but if overcrowding becomes an issue, cots are utilized.
He noted that many of the bails that accompany the women’s charges are “fairly high,” which often contributes to an increase in the population.
“A $15,000 bail for driving on a suspended (license),” he said. “And it just goes up from there.”
“How is everyone doing?” Harron asked as the tour entered the first cell. “Does everyone have what they need?”
He was greeted by smiles and a chorus of hellos, but some softly chuckled at the question.
“It’s a jail,” said one inmate. “I hope no one was expecting the Hilton.”
“I just got a pillow,” responded another. “I didn’t have one until one of the other girl was released.”
Sometimes cleaning supplies are rare.
“We ask for bleach and gloves and we probably get them two or three times a week,” said Justine, an inmate who’d been in three weeks for writing bad checks.
Without proper cleaning supplies, many of the women are concerned about getting sick.
According to Justine, there had been two lice outbreaks since she was there.
“When we first got the medication for it [lice], no one told us how to use it properly,” she said. “Now we’re on our last round of treatment, and we were supposed to get it yesterday.”
When Bresan asked about the possibility of methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the women responded that although none of the inmates have told them if they had it, they wouldn’t be surprised if the bacterial strain was present there.
Regardless, the female inmates don’t seem to have much faith in MRSA or similar health concerns being treated properly.
“I was told that adequate medical care doesn’t matter here,” said Justine.
On a whole, keeping healthy in the facility is difficult, she explained to the commission.
The food, in addition to being devoid of flavor, mostly consists of carbohydrates.
“It’s basically potatoes and we probably get half a loaf of bread a day, if not more,” said Andrea, who has been behind bars since Aug. 1 for violating her probation by driving on a suspended license.
“I’d love to see some cereal and maybe some ketchup,” added Justine.
When it comes to exercise, Andrea said that the outdoor yard is too crowded and small to get a real workout.
“Most people just end up walking around,” she said.
A structured exercise program would also give the women another way to fend off boredom.
“I think I’ve read every book on the library cart,” said Clifford. “When I first came in here I could easily get through a book a day.”
Board games, specifically Scrabble, are popular among the inmates. In terms of variety, the choices are slim.
“We have cards, Sorry and Scrabble,” said inmate Michelle McCarty. “Anything to keep from watching television all day.”
When the discussion turned to the availability of programs, such as anger management, financial planning, or resume building, Clifford told the panel of visitors that despite their best efforts, she doesn’t see how anything could change.
“We have one social worker for almost 300 inmates,” she said. “She does the best she can, but it makes her job almost impossible.”
“We don’t want to see you wasting your time,” Clifford added. “When I leave here, it doesn’t matter if I don’t have anyone, I’ll be all right. I’ll do what I have to do.”
The commission told the female inmates that they weren’t planning on “moving mountains,” but would like to see small improvements, from new books to read to more help in preparing inmates for when they leave.
“Things can and should be changed for the better,” Bresan said.
Bresan said the committee would present their report to the freeholders at their next monthly meeting.
Contact Suit at: (609) 886-8600 ext. 25 or lsuit@cmcherald.com