DETROIT (WWJ) -- It's only been open a week, but problems are mounting at the shiny new Wayne County Criminal Justice Center in Detroit.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Tim Pamplin is hearing some awful allegations from people who are familiar with the conditions inside the jail, along northbound I-75.
Built with money from Dan Gilbert's Bedrock, the complex was constructed as part of a deal to replace the former jail system in Downtown Detroit .
"They've all moved out of there, inmates are now here," Pamplin said. "But the problems are mounting, including fist fights, flooding, problems with the sewerage system, and understaffing."
Defense attorney Lillian Diallo, who represents some of the inmates, said she's been visiting the jail regularly since its opening, and she's had a good look at conditions inside.
Detailing one of the most concerning problems, Diallo said: "The inmates are pooping in bags. You heard me, pooping in plastic bags."
Diallo said she thought conditions for the inmates were going to improve with this move — as the old jail had issues with black mold, sewage and mice — but that this is now a dire situation.
Pamplin spoke with Ed Foxworth, a spokesperson for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, who said anytime you have a situation like this where you're moving one thousand-plus people into a new facility, there are going to be some issues.
Foxworth said, however, that they're going to get these issues resolved fairly soon.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans released the following statement regarding the situation: “Beginning on August 26th, the Wayne County Sheriff and the Juvenile & Youth Services Division moved over 1400 inmates and almost 120 juvenile residents from their former locations into the newly constructed Adult Detention Facility and Juvenile Detention Facility at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center (CJC). The move took place over the course of three days and was conducted without major incident. An undertaking such as this involves considerable planning and is no easy task. I congratulate Sheriff Washington and his team as well as county staff for accomplishing this feat.
"Getting acclimated to a new and complex facility requires time and the continued hard work of all our employees, and we will make any adjustments necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of those who work at and populate the CJC. Regarding the construction process, HOK and Barton Malow, two very qualified entities, were responsible for the planning, design, and construction of the CJC. The opening was a herculean effort and we worked together, as a team, to complete the task. The all-new Wayne County Criminal Justice Center ushers in a new era of justice for Wayne County and is a testament to our unwavering commitment to create a more efficient justice system for all.”
Foxworth added that the jail is indeed dealing with a staffing shortage, so if you're looking for a job, and want to help out, give the sheriff's office a call.
This all comes after county officials in 2017 announced that a 2,000-bed jail that sat half-finished on Gratiot Ave. near Greektown would not be completed.
Construction on that facility stopped in June of 2013 because the project was wildly over budget, with cost overruns totaling more than $90 million, leaving what some have called the "fail jail" to stand as an eyesore in the city.
Demolition of the half-finished jail began the following year, with future plans by Bedrock said to include an "innovation district" at the Gratiot site.
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