SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon is working to hold those who run 201 Poplar accountable. She said she saw leaking pipes, mold, plumbing issues and standing water as she toured the jail.
These are just a few of the issues former detainees have mentioned are happening inside the county-run jail.
“We all know we need a new jail,” Sugarmon said. “But where is the funding coming from?”
Sugarmon said a new jail will cost about $1 billion.
As a solution to funding the jail, the state is giving Shelby County commissioners an opportunity to introduce a referendum. This would increase the sales tax percentage for Shelby County, leading residents to pay for the jail.
Sugarmon said she does not support a tax increase because it will become a "huge issue" for people who are barely able to afford food.
Not only is the funding a problem, but the timeline is too. The wait for a new jail is leaving detainees in unlivable conditions.
“There are leaks, mold, all kinds of physical issues with the facility that need to be addressed,” Sugarmon said.
On top of the jail’s appearance, when there are altercations, or detainees feel mistreated, they’re supposed to fill out a grievance form. However, some inmates didn’t even know the form existed.
“When I went there today, I didn’t see any grievance forms out,” Sugarmon said. “Chief Fields stated that they would now put the grievance forms inside the pods. And I will be back to make sure they put out.”
The issues don’t end there. Shelby County Jail uses Aramark as its food vendor, which costs them $5 million. It's an expensive contract that could be used in more nutritional ways.
“The food is not warm, they said, the Aramark food,” Sugarmon said. “And so, in order to buy this food from the same vendor, it costs additional money.”
To be exact, one plate of hot food can cost a detainee between $12 and $50.
It’s a laundry list of problems that Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon is hoping to take on headfirst.
“As a commission, we are trying to work with the Sheriff’s Department to fix what needs to be fixed,” Sugarmon said.
Commissioner Sugarmon said she hasn’t spoken to Sheriff Floyd Bonner in about a month. ABC24 reached out to his team, and he wasn’t available on Wednesday during or following the tour at the jail that was led by Chief Kirk Fields.
Regardless, Commissioner Sugarmon plans to visit the jail again in one month to see what progress has been made. We'll report back to see if anything has changed.