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Maury County Jail balances lockdown with potential increase in population amid pandemic

Daily Herald - 4/1/2020

Apr. 1--Some jails and prisons have released inmates to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, but Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland said there's no need at the county jail.

The local lockup is operating under capacity because of a decrease in recidivism and decisions by local courts not to incarcerate offenders on minor charges during the pandemic, Rowland said.

State prisons have a hold on new inmates from county facilities, he added.

"Any movement has been halted at this time," Rowland told The Daily Herald. "It has been a strain, but we are doing well right now with the help of our courts. Every offender who commits a crime in Maury County, they come to us."

Law enforcement and the court system in Maury County are refraining from holding those who have committed misdemeanor offenses and violations of child support, the sheriff said.

"We have all the local agencies on board, and we are doing much better," Rowland said. "These are unprecedented times, and there is no playbook."

Located on Lawson White Drive, just north of Columbia, the Maury County Jail has a total of 263 inmates incarcerated at the facility with a recommended capacity of 368 beds.

The virus comes at a time with relatively low number of inmates are incarcerated at the local facility, nonetheless experts say that jail and prisons remain particularly vulnerable to illnesses.

"Our population [in the jail] is down," Rowland said.

The sheriff, who is serving his second four-year term in the position, said the county jail has preciously held 451 inmates during a period of extreme overcrowding in November 2017.

The local county jail continues to keep new inmates separated from the jail's general population and continues to uphold a strict no-visitor policy that was enacted last month.

In compliance with state regulations, inmates continue to have the right for one hour of visitation time each week through monitored videoconferencing, but all external programs remain suspended, including education opportunities for inmates, remain suspended through the end of April. The jail's work-release and trustee programs are also on hold to prevent the spread of the virus.

Rowland said some actives led by members of the jail's staff continue.

The Maury County Jail first initiated a lock down in early March days after the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in neighboring Williamson County.

In Nashville, some of those incarcerated in the Davidson County Sheriff's Office jail system are being released early in response to the spread of the virus.

In Detroit, nearly 100 inmates have been identified for release from the Wayne County Jail amid concerns over the coronavirus.

As the lockdown continues at the local jail and the state holds on the acceptance of new inmates, Rowland says preparations are being made to manage an increased number of inmates.

"The longer we go, the more individuals we have there," Rowland said. "It is definitely going to add some hardships. We are working to create more room."

The Maury County Sheriff's Department contained to take precautions outside the walls of the local jail in an effort to keep both law enforcement and the public safe from the virus.

The department is taking reports by phone if the situation allows for it.

With schools out for session, the department's more than 20 school resource officers are temporary bolstering the department's patrol units, the sheriff said.

The local jail also continues to take additional precautions including proper social distancing between both staff members and inmates and an increased cleaning regimen and the facilities staff are working to make improvements on a daily basis.

"Somebody has to be here," Rowland said. "Our staff has stepped up. They understand that their role here is essential. I have seen protective input from entry level staff members to our command staff. We are working together to come with the best plan to meet the needs of Maury County. we believe we have come up with the best possible the plan to protect the safety of our inmates and the public."

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a pandemic. Reported illnesses range from very mild to severe, including death. Agencies anticipate widespread transmission will occur in the U.S. in coming months and recommend social distancing among other measures to slow the spread. Call your doctor and stay home if you are sick.

Maury Regional has established a COVID-19 information line, which can be accessed between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at (931) 540-4257. Calls are answered by health care professionals who are there to discuss possible symptoms, self-monitoring recommendations, as well as directing patients to recommended locations for care, if needed.

Patients experiencing mild to moderate flu-like symptoms are encouraged to call the information line to discuss symptoms and travel history prior to seeking care. If the patient is urgently ill, they should seek emergency medical care and immediately inform emergency department registration staff, 911 or the ambulance team of their symptoms and concerns.

According to a Maury Regional press release, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Those who have traveled to an area with a community outbreak of the virus or who have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms and utilize social distancing to prevent potential spread of the virus to others.

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(c)2020 The Daily Herald (Columbia, Tenn.)

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