Mugshots Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton Co.

[Misty]

Does anyone besides me visit the online mugshot page for these counties or am I just a voyeur? Perhaps my voyeurism comes from my stint in retail or maybe it's because I've lived here long enough to recognize faces, names etc. but I visit the mugshot page about once a month...more if it has been a "news week".

That aside, I noticed the other day that Walton County has been housing a LOT of prisoners from Escambia County lately which sorta made me wonder if Walton County is reimbursed for the 100 or so inmates they have housed over the last few weeks? Perhaps Danny Glidewell knows the answer to this? Danny?

Then...some news feeds started popping up on facebook that kinda answered the question as to why we would be housing inmates for another County. It seems Escambia County is having major issues with their jail facility from leaks, mold, lack of medical services to several UNEXPLAINED deaths of inmates while incarcerated in that facility. I say UNEXPLAINED because the families of these inmates (the ones who spoke publicly) have not yet been offered an explanation as to how their loved ones died while in the jail infirmary where it is alleged they are they are checked on hourly. 3 of the deaths were admitted suicides.

1. 11/2/14 James Brumley, 48, suicide
2. 1/21/15 Chad Day, 43, suicide
3. 5/27/15 Rodney Berry, 53 (unexplained)
4. 9/01/15 Shawn Jordan, 45 (unexplained)
5. 9/23/15 Cedrick Henderson, 29, suicide
6. 11/15/15 Samuel Averheart, 21 (unexplained)
7. 01/19/16 Alfred Wesley, 63 (unexplained)

According to a 2015 study by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 80 percent of the country's county jails report no deaths in any given year. Only about 6 percent of county jails in the nation have two or more deaths in a year. Of late, Escambia County has been averaging a death roughly every two months.

Escambia County also admits there are significant problems in the jail. The Board of County Commissioners took control of the jail from Sheriff David Morgan in Oct. 2013 and, as Commissioner Doug Underhill pointed out the facility has only gotten worse since.

http://ricksblog.biz/another-jail-death-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1360925
Jail Deaths Require Scrutiny | Inweekly
Exclusive: Family speaks out about jail death of Devon Averheart | Rick's Blog
Escambia seeks to end jail deaths

Say what you will about people being incarcerated but bottom line is they didn't give up their civil rights to be humanely treated while incarcerated. Escambia County jail is going to cost the taxpayers dearly in civil litigation.

God forbid one of Escambia Counties inmates dies on Sheriff Adkinson's watch!

 

[sunspotbaby]

wow. That IS a lot. In my experience (25 years ago) I know they are reimbursed for housing State prisoners in the county jail. I don't know about county to county though.

 

[Matt J]

I would think so or at least getting a good credit to do the reverse should it be needed.

 

[Misty]

I would think so or at least getting a good credit to do the reverse should it be needed.

With inmates dropping like flies in Escambia County Jail I wouldn't want inmates from here going there but hey, humanitarians aren't real popular either.

 

[PoppaJ]

I was on there a couple of weeks ago and saw those prisoners being held for Escambia. I thought they were just picked up here and being held. Had no idea Escambia jail was a hell hole death chamber.

 

[Misty]

I was on there a couple of weeks ago and saw those prisoners being held for Escambia. I thought they were just picked up here and being held. Had no idea Escambia jail was a hell hole death chamber.

At first I thought the same thing poppaj...but the deeper I looked, coupled with the fact there are so many of them being housed here, it didn't make sense, On a good day, normally the Mugshot page shows only inmates in each perspective county and rarely have I seen WCSO housing inmates for other counties unless they are being held by WCSO for pickup or extradition. If I understand all this correctly if they were actually picked up in Walton County it would tell you the county of arrest, if it is an out of state warrant (auto hold), and what the charges are/were. I also don't think 100 or more inmates have fled to Walton County from Escambia but hey, no criminal mind here so that scenario just doesn't make sense. Then those news stories started popping up on facebook and it all made much more sense.

I followed some of the comments (I've never been in jail and wouldn't know what to expect) and the conditions people have talked about are absolutely horrid. They are so bad I'm actually surprised that a national news source hasn't picked up these stories and had a field day with them.

 

[Matt J]

Walton has housed surrounding counties prisoners for years. As I understand it, it's usually just people serving time so transportation is minimized. I'm guessing this might fall under interlocal agreements.

 

[John G]

It's Over!!!

But, I wonder exactly WHY...
Too hard core felons?
ESCO not paying the rent?
Staffing turnover issues?

Regardless it was always a bad idea and the residue will remain as many have relocated here to Walton.

Walton County sheriff evicts Escambia County inmates

Wednesday, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson wrote a letter to Escambia County commissioners notifying them that he will be cutting ties with the neighboring county.

Since 2014, the Walton County Jail has been housing Escambia County's inmates after the Escambia Central Booking and Detention Center had an explosion.

Sheriff Adkinson gave commissioners 30 days to remove the 300 inmates from Walton County's facility.

 

[John G]

Story continues to develop with this now being "a political issue".

One of the Escambia Officials event thinks the letter will be recinded...hope not.

Also, I'd love each to see just where the $5 million per year since 2014 actually went...

 

[John G]

"In April, Escambia County transferred all of the inmates who were housed in Santa Rosa County back to Escambia County. Adkinson said that was done with short notice.

Walton County's contract with Escambia County mandates that the county provide a 30-day notice to end the agreement. Adkinson said in light of the short notice given to Santa Rosa County, he was concerned Walton County would be treated similarly.

In his letter, Adkinson brought up a presentation given by Tamyra Jarvis, director of corrections for Escambia County, on May 25 to the Escambia County Board of Commissioners.

"We were taken aback by the presentation to the Board," Adkinson wrote in the letter. "That presentation's veracity is central to my concern the board is not fully aware of operational issues at the jail and represents a deliberate indifference." "

Walton County sheriff explains letter to end housing Escambia County inmates

This continues to be confusing as to the real reason for the "eviction"...

Is he saying that Escambia Officials simply don't appreciate the effort and job WCSO is doing or is there more? Each article has different quotes and different angles.

Did Escambia pull out of Santa Rosa County early, ie. "Short Notice"?

More facts please this is confusing...

"The reality is we're going to have a need for temporarily housing inmates for the next 15 years," Underhill said. - (Escambia Official)

Lets not turn Walton County into Pensacola please...our tourists are bad enough, don't need any more perps.