Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor says the local jail has turned into a, quote, “mental health hospital.” Now he wants Sheriff Walt McNeil to present a plan to improve conditions there.
Proctor says 40 percent of the population is on medication for mental health reasons, and the ratio of inmates to staff can be as high as 94 to 1. He called the jail a, quote, “keg of dynamite.”
“Sheriff McNeil should bring forward his vision of how to alleviate the conditions impacting citizens of our community, from other places, who are housed here,” Proctor said.
McNeil says the jail population fluctuates from day to day, but the percentage on medication hovers around 40 percent. He agrees that U.S. jails in general house many inmates who are mentally ill, as they’re often the facilities of last resort.
“We’re talking about getting more treatment in our facility for personal and mental health issues,” he said. “We’ve done a pretty good job with that. We’ve gone after state grants to assist us with the mental health population…”
McNeil also says the jail is 30 years old, and that he’s working with the County Commission to plan for its future.
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According to the Leon County Sheriff's Office: The Leon County Detention Facility population changes daily, due to inmate releases and transfers, but here are the details as of 4/13/2023:
967 male inmates – 35 % are on psychotropic medication.
130 female inmates – 83 % are on psychotropic medication.
The detention facility can hold 1,204 inmates, so currently, it is considered full. "The population is challenging but we manage it every day and we have relief valves with our relationship with surrounding Sheriffs who have indicated they will provide us with capacity for these inmates if needed," said LCSO spokeswoman Angela Green.
"We currently have 19 Correctional Officer openings, with 16 candidates currently undergoing pre-employment screenings. These numbers are also fluid depending on resignations and retirements...Recruiting for these positions is a nationwide challenge. LCSO is working aggressively to reduce vacancies through several platforms - including local and regional job fairs and community events. We also have a full-time recruiter and recently launched a TV and social media campaign to promote job openings.
"We are offering a FULL Academy sponsorship, to qualified applicants, with a 2-year commitment. To learn more about benefits and compensation and to apply, visit us at: www.leoncountyso.com for more information."
