12/11/13 - With talks of expanding the Livingston County Jail having gone nowhere for nearly a decade, Sheriff Bob Bezotte says he felt it was appropriate to release a photo showing the overcrowding situation firsthand. The image shows eight female inmates crowded together in unsanitary conditions in the holding/intake area, which is where anyone arrested is first held until theyâre arraigned or released on bond. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says he knew there would be some repercussions when he released the photo to County Commissioners but felt it was the right thing to do because the public has a right to know whatâs going on and theyâre still no closer to a jail expansion than they were ten years ago, which is where his frustration lies. Bezotte says he was really upset by the photo and as Sheriff, heâs responsible for the care and wellbeing of all jail inmates. He says the intake area was not built for the increase in the different populations theyâre seeing now, which must be segregated by law and require separate intake cells. While this type of situation mostly occurs over long holiday weekends, he says the image clearly shows a pressing need to expand jail facilities. Commission Chairwoman Carol Griffith tells WHMI everyone needs to work together on this and the County has taken immediate steps to reduce risks and corrective actions now that theyâre aware of the current jail situation as presented by Bezotte. She says the rough costs of a jail expansion has essentially been completed while a financial study for operations commenced three months ago and a presentation on the findings will be forthcoming at Mondayâs meeting. Her complete statement is posted below. The photo is now also garnering attention from the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. Deputy Director Rana Elmir tells WHMI the image is certainly disturbing and they will also be contacting jail personnel and investigating. She says this is not the first time the ACLU has dealt with conditions at the Livingston County Jail and hopes it wonât take another lawsuit to address the issues, referring to class action lawsuit centered on the privacy rights of female inmates that was settled in 2004 for $850,000. (JM)
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