In an exclusive interview with 16 WAPT News’ Tammy Estwick, the officers said that inmates “roam freely” at night and make the jail unfit to work in.
The officer, who asked to remain anonymous, showed undercover video he filmed from inside the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond.
It shows prisoners breaking out of their cells at night with little trouble. The officer said the situation is making some of his co-workers too afraid to go to work.
At one point the in video, an inmate was able to open a locked door with some kind of metal implement.
The officer said, “At any point in time they can escape out of their doors.”
He went on to say that the No. 1 problem is that not enough officers on are on duty.
“It’s maximum 66 inmates to one officer. A lot of them are scared a lot of them are stressed because of the conditions,” the officer said.
Last week, Sheriff Tyrone Lewis showed the same problem at the Hinds County Detention Center.
Lewis said his staff already knows how the inmates are breaking out of their cells. He said the inmates take metal from the ceiling and others used laundry bags to the same effect.
“They’re going into the facility that we need the most and that’s the Hinds County Detention Center,” Lewis said.
The sheriff wouldn’t say exactly how many officers he needs for the jail to be secure but did admit that even with the new recruits, he needs more.
“I can tell you that we are close without compromising the safety of the employees out there since this is going to be on television were close and were going to continue to move toward our goal of full capacity,” Lewis said.
The sheriff said he is working on a list of companies that can help with repairs to the Hinds County Detention Center.
He said he plans to give the list to the board of supervisors to expedite the needed repairs.
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