Towns County Jail faces shakedown
By BECKY LANDRESS Sentinel Writer

During the campaign for sheriff of Towns County, the jail was a major issue that was debated. Sheriff Chris Clinton went headstrong into the realities of the jail as he enforced a "shakedown" on Thursday, December 20, 2007, only 6 days after being sworn in on Friday, December 14.

To the surprise of inmates; Sheriff Clinton, deputies, jail staff, Appalachian Drug Task Force, DNR and Union County Sheriff department showed up and meant business. "Any items deemed to be contraband which are not violations of Georgia law will be kept and your families will be allowed to pick them up if they can do so in a timely manner." stated Clinton. "I expect you to cooperate with these officers." Inmates were taken out one cell at a time and the cells were searched and drug dogs ran through. The inmates were then searched and returned to their cells. All four pods were searched in the same manner.

A cell on the second floor was closed down because at some point in the past, inmates had managed to cut through the steel bar in the middle of the window, at top and bottom. The bar was held together with toothpaste. Below the window there was an opening that had been dug out. There was a metal wire tied in the window which could be lowered to the ground outside and illegal items could be raised up.

Along with the problem found on the second floor, Clinton stated that he feels the fact that the side of the jail closest to the road has no fence is a potential security issue and he will look into a means of funding so that may be corrected.

Twenty evidence bags were filled with items which were suspected violations of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. Along with those bags, weapons were seized, including some with razor blades. An item in particular was a wooden handled object with a nail protruding through one end and the words "Bunk House" written on it. It was found above a shower. This could have been possibly placed there by an inmate that was disgruntled at the fact the bunkhouse has been shut down.

"I feel better knowing the officers as well as the inmates are safer. Random shakedowns will be conducted to prevent problems like these from reoccurring." stated the sheriff. "I would also like to publicly thank our team of deputies, the Appalachian Drug Task Force and the Georgia DNR for their assistance. I would especially like to express my appreciation to Sheriff Scott Stephens and his department for coming to help." Clinton also wanted to mention Lt. Mark Henderson, Lt. Pat Williams, Deputy Brian Wilson and K-9 Rocky for their outstanding work. Contraband on the street or in the jail will not be tolerated. Towns County citizens can rest easier knowing that those types of things will be looked for, and found, on a regular basis throughout the county.

The sheriffs department's intent is that the jail is well on the road to becoming the detention housing center that the taxpayers of Towns County envisioned when the structure was built only a few short years ago.