Safety Risk

Public and Staff Safety

Safety is compromised every time inmates are taken to court and/or transferred to other counties for housing. Transferring inmates takes deputies off the road, decreasing their focus on citizen safety. From a design perspective, the existing jail’s linear layout stretches cells along long hallways and acute angles, creating blind spots and the need for video surveillance or other means to maintain 24/7 visual surveillance. There is not pre-booking area and the booking area is another concern as the only way to get inmates there is by elevator which exposes deputies to risk by being with inmates in a confined space. Lastly, inmates are moved through general areas as there are not secure corridors to the courtroom. These actions leave the public, staff, and inmates at risk of injury, increase risk of inmate escapes, and pose potential liability to Washburn County.

Other Safety Risks

There are no secure perimeters that provide easy access to electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems so inmates often need to be moved from cells so contractors can enter when systems need maintenance.
Telecommunications and security electronics are not properly confined and accessible to inmates.
Booking station is too close to master control entryway.
Sally port doesn't give adequate space for proper movement of detainees. It's also being used for storage and it should be a dedicated space.
Unsafe booking areas: only accessible by elevator, confined space, floor clearances at door opening present a safety hazard. Space is also used as staff break area and should be a dedicated space to separate inmates from staff.
There is only one receiving cell which can be a safety risk if multiple inmates are booked at one time.
Unsafe housing areas: corridor is only five feet wide which can be challenging for officers when dealing with disruptive inmates.
Medical exam space is in a confined area that can be unsafe for staff and inmate.
Exposed conduit and electrical outlets throughout facility that inmates can easily access.
Improper storage and equipment throughout facility allows inmates easy access to use items as weapons or to cause harm to themselves or others.
Improper door hardware throughout facility.

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