State Orders Whitley County Jail To Close

(WILLIAMSBURG, Ky.) -- The state is pushing to close the new Whitley County jail eight months after it opened.

In a letter released Monday, the Kentucky Department of Corrections charged that the 150-bed lockup is overcrowded and that it lacks appropriate prisoner surveillance.

Department of Corrections Commissioner John Rees called closing the jail "absolutely necessary."

"The safety of the community in Whitley County is at risk when you have a jail that is operated in the manner this one was," Rees said. "We had to take action."

Since the jail opened in August, several inmates have escaped. Some went through a hole in the roof. Others walked through an unlocked door.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Mike Patrick said he was caught off-guard by the state's decision to close the jail.

"I was shocked," Patrick said. "I'm waiting on the official document."

The county has 72 hours to appeal the decision. Patrick said he expects to appeal. The jail would remain open during the appeal.

The jail opened in August, six years after the state moved to close the previous jail for also failing to meet minimum state standards.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)