Jail procedures change in face of COVID-19

Area sheriffs continue to make adjustments in their procedures and jail operations as concerns about COVID-19 continue.

“We’re still conducting business as usual as far as arresting people,” but those arrested for misdemeanors, “we consult judges in those cases to see if they want them locked up,” said Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner. “Felons, obviously we will still take them in.”

In Dunklin County, Sheriff Bob Holder said, his jail also is not taking misdemeanor offenders, such as shoplifters.

“We’ve told the cities to give them citations,” Holder said.

Butler County officials, Sheriff Mark Dobbs said, also have “changed the way we take prisoners from other agencies” and are prioritizing “some things regarding misdemeanor arrests and non-violent arrests.

“Things that can be handled with citations are being handled with citations.”

The priority is making room to quarantine inmates if the need arises, Dobbs said.

“We’ve also been trying to formulate a plan for a potential off-site, temporary housing facility for what we have identified as our very non-violent offenders, which would free up room for quarantine and segregation,” Dobbs said. “We’re not letting any violent criminals out for any reason.”

Dobbs said his staff also is looking at alternatives for those “at risk with serious health problems.”

On Friday, Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett issued an order saying if Dobbs or Ripley County Sheriff Mike Barton determine an inmate is “not medically fit for confinement or is at risk of infecting other inmates or sheriff’s department personnel with a pandemic disease, they may seek … an emergency medical furlough” from the court with notice of the prosecuting attorney.

Holder said several non-violent offenders were released Thursday on own-recognizance bonds after appearing in court.

“That’s going to make a big difference,” reducing the number of inmates and leaving room for the “more serious crimes,” Holder said. “The A and B felonies, we will be accepting them.”

Anyone who can be released in Wayne County will be released, Sheriff Dean Finch said.

The Dunklin County jail, Holder said, has a couple of rooms where “we are putting (new prisoners). … We’ll hold them here for a while (to make sure) they do not have any kind of sickness.

“We’re trying to do everything possible to try to protect everybody.”

Finch said his department is trying to keep jail intakes at a minimum, but “if we have to arrest somebody, we’re going to arrest them. … The virus is not going to give them a get out of jail free card.”

Anyone coming in will be separated, Finch said.

“We’re making sure and giving them an evaluation when we bring them in,” Finch said. “That’s all we can do.”

The other sheriffs agreed.

“We do a thorough screening” on everybody, including employees, Dobbs said.

That, Dobbs said, is something a lot of jails are doing around the state and the country.

“Everyone, prior to coming in the back door of the jail, we assess them, check their temperature, looking for signs of them being ill or something like that,” Hefner said.

Anyone showing signs, “we’ll take them to the hospital and have them checked out,” Hefner said.

Carter County officials also are following the same procedure.

“If they are exhibiting any signs of sickness, they’ll have an evaluation at that time (to determine) whether they are fit for confinement,” said Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens.

If one of Carter County’s inmates has a “medical request, feels sick, we are having them screened to make sure the rest of the jail population is safe,” said Stephens. “In the event the clinic wants to see them or do further testing, we take them over to get seen.”

Thus far, Hefner said, no one incarcerated in his jail has shown any signs that would point to the coronavirus.

“We’ve been very fortunate and blessed up to this point; I hope it continues,” Hefner said.

In expectation of the pandemic, Hefner said, video visitation via the in-lobby kiosk was suspended on March 13.

“They can still visit through the kiosk by phone,” Hefner said.

Before making that change, Hefner said, he went into each of the cell blocks and explained what he was doing and why to the inmates.

Hefner said he received no negative feedback and was “pleasantly surprised” by the inmates reactions.

Deputies in each of the counties still are responding to calls.

That, Dobbs said, hasn’t changed a whole lot.

“We’re asking (the citizens) to come outside of their house instead of officers going inside of their houses,” Dobbs said.

Hefner said his deputies also are more cautious.

“People that need a deputy, we ask them if anyone in the household is sick, has symptoms,” Hefner said. “We ask them to let us know prior to us entering (a home). If they say, ‘yeah,’ we take precautions, mask up, glove up, but we’re still taking all our calls.”

Stephens said he has reiterated with his entire staff the importance of “safe practices and provided them with extra protective equipment.”

Stephens said he also has asked if his staff, when they are out in “the public eye, talking to people, to reiterate the importance of calm and lessen any panic that is going on out there.”

“We have to trust in the Lord,” Holder said. “He is going to take care of us, and we’ll go on.”

Hefner agreed, adding “we’ve got to all work together … We’ll make it through it.”