The city manager has ordered the immediate removal of all female inmates charged in municipal court housed in the Jackson County Regional Correctional Center, according to a news release from the City of Kansas City.
City Manager Troy Schulte has called for a full investigation into alleged assaults at the jail.
Police are investigating the alleged sexual assaults of two female inmates by one or more male inmates at the jail.
The news release says no female inmates charged in municipal court will return until the county addresses those issues.
“We are alarmed at this incident and concerned about the safety of city inmates and detainees held in the Jackson County jail,” said Schulte in a news release. “Additionally, the city is already working with the county to quickly address operational issues.”
According to the news release, 12 women have been moved to the Platte County jail, where the city has a similar contract to house inmates. Seven female detainees had their signature bonds issued immediately so that they could be released. Two women have been released early.
The news release said the two female victims are being treated at a hospital.
The City of Kansas City, Missouri has contracted with Jackson County to house inmates for the past seven years, according to the news release. The current contract of more than $5 million a year includes 274 inmate beds, plus full medical and mental health services.
The RCC is located adjacent to the Jackson County Detention Center at 305 West 13th Street. The goal of the facility is to avoid duplicating correctional services between the county and the city.
Mayor Sly James and County Executive Frank White released a joint statement regarding the allegations at the Jackson County Regional Correction Center:
“We are both shocked and deeply troubled to learn of the recently alleged assaults at the Regional Correctional Center. Those responsible will be held accountable and all other necessary changes will be made swiftly. Jackson County and Kansas City are both committed to the original purposes of a regional correctional center. We have and will continue to work towards creating efficiencies while serving our constituencies better. However, those efforts will not be effective as long as misuses of power continue to exist. The County has hired former United States Attorney Todd Graves to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into this matter.”
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