Minutes 07/24/1934 - Laserfiche WebLink

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July 2~th. 193~. due to the fact that the key was not available. We were told that white and colored femaI offenders detained pending prelimi- nary hearing were placed in the custody'of the Sheriff there being no space avai~ ble on this floor or a "BuI1 pen""f°r such offenders. It occurs %0 us that this largestorage room might be renovated so as to be used for such purpose. The boiler room is on this f~oor. The building iS heated by steam. The facili- ties are apparently ample for convenient and comfortable heating. A pipe leading from the furnace contained a small leak which it was said'would not impair its efficiency. Water for bathing, etc., is heated in the winter by a furnace and in the summer by a small coal stove. SECOND FLOOR. This fleer contains two apartments with ten cells each which are kept fairly clean with the exception that the cells are badly in need of painting; the mattresses and blankets are dirty; eno wash basin spigot is out of order; one basin clogged; three toilet push buttons are off; three toilets will not flush. There are no toilet seat covers on this floor most of the toilets covered with magazines'or newspapers to keep out flies and there is no toilet paper on this floor. THIRD FLOOR. This floor has two ~partments with ten cells each and is praptically in th? same' condition as the second floor. Water is cut off in two wash basins amd one toil~t.~n one a~artment, and water is cut off'in two basins, one wash basin is stopped up, one mozmet pus~ losse, one toilet stoPPed up, onewash basin spigot handle loose in the other apartment. The mattresses and blankets are apparently in the same condition as on the second floor. No paper or other equipment. Cells are badly in need of painting. FOURTH FLOOR. This fleer consists of two apartments of ten cells each. -It is apparently in the same condition as second-and third floors. Three toilet push buttons loose ~and one toilet out of order, water running in one apartment and water cut off in three cells, one toilet leak- ing and one toilet failing to flush in another apartment. On this same floor is the hospital for the white people. This ro°m fronts on the east side of the building. Nas several cots. Facilities for hospital purposes poor. The bed clothing is bad, mattresses dirty and floor dirty. On'this floor is the white women's ward. This room is on the-southeast.corner of the building. In it are stored about twenty mattresses in good condition, otherwise room is bare. Enamel ware-top of toilet tank missing, toilet bowls dirty, room needs cleaning. FIFTH FLOOR. Two apartments with s even cells each a~e on this floo~. The water is cut off in two cells, and showers are out of order. The cells ~e in fair condition. Needs painting badly. The kitchen and pantry are on this Xloor. Tables in the kitchen were scrubbed clean, wood cook~ng stove in fair condition. Walls in bothrooms need painting~acly. Attached to this report is a copy of the bill of fare that is used daily and in which omly tm meals a day are served. We are of the opinion that the bill of fare is variable enough to give geed wholesome and sufficient food fe~ the prisoners. We were present'on,Thurs- day, June 28th, when dinner was served, consisting of corn bread, beans and boiled ~orE~ the quantity ef which given to eac~ prisoner was of suf£ieient portion for an individual meal. Ne are therefore of the epiniom that the food and quantity that is served at the 0ity Jail is good and sufficient for the prisoners. · COMMENTS. The entire interior of the various compartments where prisoners are held is badly in need of paint:for sanitary purposes as the walls and cells have become extremely fil- thy and dirty in many places. Section 285? of the Code of Virginia requir$s that the jail should be well white- washed at least twice in every year and have same well aired and always kept clean. It is ap- parent t.hat the. Portsmouth City Jail was last painted instead of whitewashed and for this rea- ~on we believethat it should again be painted. There is built into the structure on the first floor adjoining the boiler room a delousing machine which has never been successfully operated. T~ Hampton Roads Exterminating Oompany thoroughly spray the mattresses once each month and more often if needed. However, we are of the opinion that the mattresses should be covered with some .sort of rubber material so that they may be thoroughly washed and disinfected as often as necessary.. We do not believe that spraying with a disinfectant including the mattresses is a safe and s~fficient way cg eli- minating filth, The showers in all of the cells blocks are in meed of attention. In one shower there is a wooden half barrel with & skim of oil appearing thereon, Very uasanitary looking and is used by the prisoners for Washing their c%ethes. There ~ppe~rs~ to be ample faczlities for and airing the b~ildimg and it was well ventilated at the time of cur visit with the the "Bmll Pen"which we might again state is poorly ventilated. Respeetful!y submitted, 0t~de N. Ooeper July 5, t93~. V.J. Neads, ~.D. E.W. N~upin, Jr.,