COLUMBIA, S.C. — At the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center ad hoc committee meeting today, Richland County officials heard about a number of renovations at the county’s jail.
One of the standout moments came at the end of the meeting when county administrator Leonardo Brown breached the subject of building a new detention facility.
"I’m bringing the idea of a new facility because we are outgrowing the space that we currently have and we’re unable to address the modern needs into the future, (by) trying to renovate just the space that we have. We actually have more staff now than was anticipated in the facility, so we don’t have general space for the staff that we have,” Brown said.
Brown’s comments marked the first time the administrator has spoken to council members about building a new jail.
The Richland County jail was designed to house 1100 inmates. According to numbers presented during Tuesday's meeting, it currently it houses 1,057.
In addition to the brief discussion about a new detention facility, Brown updated committee members on a whole host of items being done to try and renovate the current jail.
"Those renovations, as you see here, include everything from doors to lighting to electrical to plumbing,” Brown told the committee members.
One issue that has generated concern is the upgrading of locks throughout the facility.
Brown said contractors are close to installing all-new locks throughout the complex.
"We are 75% complete on those locks. There are only two remaining units that don’t have the locks complete and each of those units has 56 locks within them,” Brown said.
After the meeting, News19 asked Brown about the plumbing upgrades, including the new toilets for the jail.
"The old porcelain toilet system, if that unit is in that cell, will be replaced with a modern, stainless steel, water management toilet system," Brown said.
Tuesday’s update stated that 64 additional staff members have been hired to work at the jail. While Brown declined to discuss specific staffing levels, he did say that more jobs are available.
"We could certainly use more people. If anyone is available to apply, that (are) interested, we ask them to come on out and apply,” Brown said.
The upgrades at the Richland County jail are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.