FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Detention Center received a new state occupancy license March 1 that is good for two years. It expires Feb. 28, 2019.
A three-member team conducted the on-site inspection at the jail Feb. 23 and 24, Maj. Doug Blauvelt, jail administrator, told Franklin County commissioners Tuesday during his highlights of the Biennium Inspection Report issued March 10.
The jail received a 99.2 percent rating in meeting mandatory standards and a 98.4 percent rating in meeting essential standards, Blauvelt said.
The facility is licensed for 39 beds. As of Tuesday morning, Blauvelt said there were only three beds available.
This is the first inspection since the facility licensed to reopen as a fully operational jail on April 13, 2015. The state changed the jail’s mission to a 72-hour holding facility on July 1, 2009. Franklin County inmates who were serving county sentences or were being held prior to going to trial or couldn’t make bail had to be transferred to another county jail after 72 hours.
The inspection team extended their gratitude in the report to Blauvelt, Lt. John Donald, assistant jail administrator and the rest of the center’s staff for the professionalism, accommodation and patience exhibited throughout the inspection process.
“Additionally please pass along our appreciation to Lorna (Nichols, cook supervisor) for the wonderful meals prepared that never disappoint,” Blauvelt read from a letter included in the report.
Blauvelt read several highlights from the auditor’s report. Under records, the report stated that segregation, use of force and other reporting form templates are well-designed to capture all pertinent and required information.
“There is a high level of quality assurance placed on records at (the center),” the report states. “During the inspection, Lt. Donald was observed reviewing and making notations in facility activity logs. Any deficiencies and, or, inaccuracies by staff are returned for correction. This practice exceeds any logs review practices I have observed.”
As far as safety and security, both the control room and booking room corrections officers that were interviewed were able to identify the location of the relative post orders and were well versed in the responsibilities of their post.
“It was explained that all security staff are cross-trained at all posts, and rotate assignments on a regular basis. This is an exceptional practice to avoid being short-hand(ed) at any one post when there is a staff (member) out sick or for other reasons,” according to the report.
It was also noted that there is an “exemplary system in place for testing all keys and respective locks and maintaining records of such,” Blauvelt read.
In regards to inmate classifications, Victoria Parker serves as the jail’s classification specialist. Classification levels and criteria are outlined in agency policies. Documentation reviewed on site demonstrated classifications time lines and procedures.
“Victoria really stepped up and really fine-tuned classification procedures,” Blauvelt said.
In regards to food services, the kitchen was very clean and all equipment appeared to be in good working order. Many of the meals are made from scratch to include fresh, baked bread and desserts.
“A sampling of two lunches found the meals to be served as the menu stated, tasty and hot/cold appropriate,” the audit states.
It was noted in connection to facilities that maintenance supervisor Raymond Lee is a full-time employee dedicated to the Sheriff’s Office, which is a huge asset to the agency, according to the report. “There are newer jails not as well maintained as (Franklin County Detention Center) because they lack the maintenance staff necessary to incorporate a proper preventative maintenance plan.”
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Major Doug Blauvelt, left, administrator of the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington, gives Franklin County commissioners the highlights from the state’s 2017 Biennium Inspection Report on Tuesday while Lt. John Donald, jail assistant administrator, and county Treasurer Pam Prodan look on.
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