Politics & Government
More Inmates, Fights in Crowded Jefferson County Jail
The Jefferson County Jail is holding about three times more inmates than it was designed to contain, the stltoday.com news website reports.
Although the Jefferson County jail is overcrowed and understaffed, County Executive Ken Waller said the county government is unable to afford more staff or increase the jail's size.
There is a 42 percent increase in the number of fights at the jail and only five officers work at the jail, the website reports.
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Jefferson County Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Boyer wants to hire 18 more officers. Waller said there is no additional money available for more staff in the county's $82 million budget for 2012.
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