KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County legislators unanimously voted in favor of the new appointment of Diana Turner to be the acting director of corrections for the Jackson County Detention Center.
Legislators said the vote is a show of confidence in the new direction the jail is heading after the former director of corrections in Jackson County resigned last week.
“I feel that all signs are everybody is prepared to work together. Certainly the county executive's office the prosecutor's office, the sheriff's department -- they’ve reached out,” Turner said.
This comes as there are lawsuits over alleged sexual assaults in the jail, and some corrections officers have been beaten to the point of fearing for their lives. Multiple studies have also confirmed the jail is overcrowded and understaffed.
Jackson County Executive Frank White, appointed a task force to look into how a new jail should be designed, and how the criminal justice system should change to prevent jail overcrowding
The task force is looking at other cities where first-time DUI offenders are sent straight to treatment facilities and people with mental health issues who are arrested are taken directly to mental health facilities instead of the jail.
The task force is expected to have its report sometime next year.
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Cynthia Newsome is an anchor. See her full report at 6 p.m. and check back for updates.
