Glitches Foil Jail Security System
The corrections bureau of Pierce County, Wash., has already spent 84 percent of its overtime budget for 2003, in part because of problems with the new jail security system, which include accidentally opening cell-room doors.
An additional guard has been on duty since August due to the faulty computer system.
The touch-screen system is centrally situated in the county’s new $54 million, 1,008-bed jail. The $5 million computer system operates gates and cell doors in both the new facility and the older, smaller jail.
Scott Hogman, the construction projects manager for Pierce County, said the cell door issue is not the fault of the computer, but the result of corrections officers accidentally touching more than one key simultaneously and confusing the system.
“That said, we are replacing the touch monitor with faster units,” Hogman noted.
Corrections Chief Eileen Bisson, however, disagrees with Hogman’s analysis, contending that the problem “was coming up with the electronics itself. Why would we be replacing the equipment if it was an officer problem?”
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Tacoma News Tribune (WA) (06/16/03) P. A1; Corvin, Aaron.