Complexities of jail heard

Talk about it

The Pierce County Jail Ad Hoc Committee went over a lot of topics and discussed several items Monday.

Chief among them was the introduction of Jail Consultant Marvin Wilson. Wilson gave a brief overview of his background, including 34 years with the Polk County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office, located in Des Moines. Wilson spent 17 of them as Chief Jailer before retiring in 2006. He is currently an auditor for the American Correctional Association (ACA), with over 90 audits completed in states such as Florida, Indiana, Colorado, New Jersey, Minnesota, Virginia and Tennessee. He is also a consultant for the National Institute of Corrections.

“I’m neither an attorney nor an architect,” Wilson said. “I have a lot of experience in correctional facility and jail administration.”

He explained, as an auditor with the ACA, which is a voluntary organization, he travels to those locations and sees if standards are being met. He also talks to inmates to see if they are feeling safe, their basic needs are met, etc…

“Those who are in prison are generally more honest with you than those in jail,” he explained.

Wilson, who never visited Pierce County before Monday, praised Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Jail Lieutenant Mike Knoll and his staff throughout the meeting.

“They are doing what they can to keep their head above water,” he said, in lieu of the facility’s problems.

For more please read the Feb. 13 print version of the Herald.

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