PHOTO ESSAY: 24 hours in the Dent County Jail
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Jamie Decker being incarcerated into Cell One at the Dent County Jail. Decker's husband died in a drug overdose earlier this year. She said would rather be getting mental health treatment than being locking into the jail. Decker's sentence was 10 days due to missing a mandated drug test.
- Andrew Sheeley
Amy Murr being released from the Dent County Jail on Feb. 16. Murr said the facility was the worst place she'd ever been, but declared on her way out she'd be back. In less than a week, Murr had returned after violating an order of protection by attending an area church.
- Andrew Sheeley
Inmate counts reached as high as 55 Thursday, even though the facility’s official capacity is 21. The overcrowding led to 10 inmates, including these three, to be transferred to Texas County which will cost taxpayers at least $400 per day during their stay.
- Andrew Sheeley
Cell Two at the Dent County Jail was found to be caked in mold along its eastern wall.
- Andrew Sheeley
Overcrowding in a chronic problem at the Dent County Jail, with some cells designed for six people housing as many as 14 or more at the time.
- Andrew Sheeley
The only access to water for inmates is either from the shower of from the cells' sinks, which sits above their toilets.
- Andrew Sheeley
The shower of Cell Two at the Dent County Jail.
- Andrew Sheeley
The shower of Cell Two at the Dent County Jail.
- Andrew Sheeley
The showerhead in Cell Three at the Dent County Jail is an empty plastic A&W Root Beer soda bottle.
- Andrew Sheeley
Salem News Staff Writer Andrew Sheeley interviewing inmates at the Dent County Jail in 2017.
Reserve Deputy/Jailer Drew Smith speaks to inmates at the Dent County Jail.
- Andrew Sheeley
Jailer/Reserve Deputy Drew Smith displays the amount of Benadryl the sheriff’s office goes through to treat the inmate’s mold related illnesses.
- Andrew Sheeley
Inmates at the Dent County Jail are chronically sick due to overcrowding and mold. Each day, dozens of different over the counter pills have to be distributed.
- Andrew Sheeley
An inmate being released from the Dent County Jail said he'd broken out with a skin irritation as a result of being locked in a cell with black mold. He displayed his right arm as evidence.
- Andrew Sheeley
The ventilation vent feeding air in into the jail's cells are caked in mold and spew a dust-like spore into the crowded facility.
- Andrew Sheeley
Inmates were served with a lunch of ramen noodles as well as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
- Andrew Sheeley
Jail Administrator Chris McElvy speaks to an inmate at the Dent County Jail. McElvy is the only designated jailer while she’s on duty despite at least two being needed based on Dent County’s inmate counts.
- Andrew Sheeley
An inmate checks his insulin level while Jail Administrator Chris McElvy supervises.
- Andrew Sheeley
Overcrowding leads to inmate fights, such as the case with Ralph McDowell.
- Andrew Sheeley
Reserve Deputy/Jailer Drew Smith confronts inmate Ralph McDowell with a broken razor. The other inmates of Cell Four said McDowell had removed its blade. McDowell denied the accusation.
- Andrew Sheeley
Jamie Decker being incarcerated into Cell One at the Dent County Jail. Decker's husband died in a drug overdose earlier this year. She said would rather be getting mental health treatment than being locking into the jail. Decker's sentence was 10 days due to missing a mandated drug test.
- Andrew Sheeley
Due to overcrowding Thursday, two female inmates had to be housed in the sheriff office's interview room.
- Andrew Sheeley
Inmate in sheriff office's interview room.
- Andrew Sheeley
Amy Murr being released from the Dent County Jail on Feb. 16. Murr said the facility was the worst place she'd ever been, but declared on her way out she'd be back. In less than a week, Murr had returned after violating an order of protection by attending an area church.
- Andrew Sheeley
Sheriff Bob Wells and his deputies prepare to execute a search warrant in Bunker in connection to methamphetamine. They would later return with two more inmates, bring Thursday count up to 55.
- Andrew Sheeley
Deputy Danny Stephens picking which 10 inmates would be sent to the Texas County Jail due to overcrowding - with Deputy Austin Shelton.
- Andrew Sheeley
Inmate counts reached as high as 55 Thursday, even though the facility’s official capacity is 21. The overcrowding led to 10 inmates, including these three, to be transferred to Texas County which will cost taxpayers at least $400 per day during their stay.
- Andrew Sheeley
Mold at the sheriff's office is leaching into the work areas of the deputies.
- Andrew Sheeley
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