The problems for Stoddard County keeps on stacking up on one another causing the county to cry out for help. From plumbing problems to overcrowded jails. The inability to staff. The abuse of the inmate. Those are just some of the messed up things going on within Stoddard County.
The county jail was built to house 28 inmates and is now housing over 80 inmates every day. Overcrowding is an issue plaguing our entire state. There is, however, a difference between overcrowding and the problems within Stoddard County. See Stoddard county is next level of overcrowding with over 4 times the amount of inmates living in the cells than they are built for.
The overcrowding is just the tip of the problems inside this jail. Inmates in this jail claim they don’t eat enough. Inmates have stated to us that they are starving. “If you want to be able to have a chance of eating a full meal you must buy it” said anonymous inmate. Commissary prices in this jail are much higher than in other jails. The prices in this jail could be considered price gouging.
One Inmate who wishes to remain Anonymous who fears retaliation has contacted us, in hopes that we can put a spotlight on the problem. So that they don't have to endure the cruel and unusual treatment any longer. They are suffering every day. This inmate has stated that you are feed just a bowl of rice or beans for dinner. This person has gone thru so much hell that we can not fit everything he been through. (CLICK HERE TO READ HIS STORY - Coming August 12, 2018)
The jail is now suffering from a massive plumbing problem caused by the overcrowding. The problem has gotten so bad that part of the jail has to resorts to using outdoor portable outhouses. People are seen having to trip, skip, and hop over others in efforts to make there a way to the portable outhouses.
The Jail has been unable to properly staff there jail. Sheriff Hefner admits (to KFVS) he's four deputies short right now. And with starting pay around $11 an hour, it's tough to attract new ones. "When we started getting so crowded, we had to move bunks in here for people to sleep on", Hefner said. "But as you can see, there's not enough space there. So a lot of them are sleeping on the floor." Sheriff Hefner even stated, “It's definitely a public safety issue for all of us."
With the low pay, the county is offering for new officers. On top of the way, the jailers are forced to care for the inmates. One can understand why no one would want to work in those conditions forced to treat humans in this inhumane way.
There is some real hope. During the primaries, the county has proposed two props that are asking for more tax money to build a new jail and fix the old one. Liberal Missouri plans to bring you that story of what the county plans to really do now that the props passed. Coming August 19, 2018, we will cover all the sheriff plans now that the aid that they say they need is coming.
Even tho that there is some hope coming. The new building and repair will take a long time before they will no longer be treated in an inhumane way. Till everything goes through and the inmates will have to suffer. The conditions that they will be subject to is torture and being treated like animals with horrible owners. Some inmates have come to us, to tell us their personal horror stories. We are working with them and hope to bring you there stories next week.