SC tells Cherokee County jail it must fix problems

GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina prison officials are giving the Cherokee County jail less than three months to develop a plan to correct several problems with overcrowding.

The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reports (http://bit.ly/MbGIyc ) the jail was built for 150 inmates, but had 232 prisoners at the start of this week.

The letter to the jail from the Department of Corrections outlines 20 areas where the jail is not in compliance with state standards. The letter says jailers are struggling to keep more dangerous inmates separated from other prisoners and the jail needs more bathrooms and a medical room in the booking area.

State officials have given the jail until Oct. 16 to submit a plan to fix the problems.

Sheriff Steve Mueller says he will ask County Council for more money.

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Information from: Herald-Journal, http://www.goupstate.com/