Jail flood cleanup costs city thousands

Inmates trying to talk through pipes cause damage, flooding at Duval County jail

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city has spent more than $9,000 to clean up a raw sewage flood at the Duval County jail after inmates stuffed objects down toilets, breaking sewer pipes.

The inmates were attempting to talk to each other between floors by clogging the toilets to clear the pipes in between, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

The flood forced 800 inmates to be moved to other cells and closed down the courtroom in the jail where inmates first appear before a judge.

So far, cleaning out areas with drywall and carpet has cost $9,656, but the cost will likely go up as ceiling tiles and other items are repaired or replaced.

Visitation was canceled Thursday but visitors were allowed to return to the jail Friday. Some parts of the jail remained off limits.

One woman, who asked not to be identified, said she visited a relative Friday and he told her the jail was a mess.

"He told me that everything is basically falling apart," the woman said.

Another woman said by phone that she is worried about her husband. She said she has not been allowed to talk to him. She's worried the conditions are unhealthy and will make inmates sick.

"He is innocent until proven guilty," Lorinda Walker said. "It does not mean he has to live in squalor just because he is in jail."

JSO admitted the 25-year-old jail has its problems. Police said the stunt by inmates did some serious damage to the first and second floors.

They said it's going to take some time to make repairs to the J1 courtroom in the jail. For now, the first appearance hearings have been shifted to the Duval County Courthouse, which means the new courthouse will have to be open on weekends. That means more staff and security and more money.

"It's going to probably put some stress on the manpower from the sheriffs office," Chief Judge Mark Mahon said.

The move also raises security concerns stemming from a 1997 incident when a family member of a 3-year-old murder victim rushed the court and attacked Jason Stephens. Since then, a Plexiglass wall was installed in the jail courtroom to keep the  public separated from the inmates. The move to the Duval County Courthouse means that safety feature is not available.

Mahon said there are also other concerns for the courthouse.

"If it were to be here, we have to worry about the wear and tear on the facility frankly," Mahon said. "Sometimes people, because they are just freshly arrested, some have had mental health issues that haven't fully resolved. Some of them have behaved inappropriately. We've had people that have gotten sick that have defecated themselves, those types of things in the courtroom. We've had TB outbreaks."

The city is responsible for the cost of the cleanup in the jail building. News4Jax has requested a final count on the cost, and the city is checking on those numbers. 


About the Author:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.