Dear Editor:

In response to recent commentary from Sheriff Danny Boyd, and as such the state of our former Barry County jail, I would like to give you a worthwhile commentary in regards to the state of the old jail as far as physical and administrative close-up point of view.

I was incarcerated in our old jail on April 15, 2009, through May of 2011, minus a three-month stay in Stone County jail in Galena.

I would like to say that Mr. Boyd’s account of events surrounding our old jail are basically true, however, somewhat understated by my view.

I can say this due to my personal relationships with staff and other inmates at the time. The staff there, included our former jail coordinator Jane Smith, had many challenges with staff/inmates, our former Sheriff Mick Epperly and county commissioners, etc. I would like to add as fact that the jail has/has personal challenges, not the least of which include proper training and handling of said inmates’ physical and psychological needs.

I can state this due to the fact I was a model inmate, and as such, was given opportunity to view all parties involved with insight made aware by the close working with Mrs. Smith and other personnel at the time.

Regarding treatment of inmates’ needs, etc., it was at best most of the time inconsistent with normal reasons. The diet consisted of the following. Every other day you received one biscuit with a little flour gravy. Other days, you had one small bowl of oatmeal (Note: the product read on the strap on the bag packaging, “not for human consumption”).

Noon meal was most times decent, like spaghetti or some kind of base meat and veggies, mostly green beans. And, at dinner, it was always bologna sandwich on white bread.

There was a choice of four types of chips and three cookies — chocolate chip/oatmeal, macaroon and sugar cookies. We had tea or maybe Cool-Aid to drink if they had made enough to go around.

Jail at many times was over safe capacity to be able to really operate well. Showers fore inmates were something, sometimes due to time restraints, were skipped. Clean and laundered uniforms came back smelling worse than before it went there.

And, exercise day varied depending on staff attitude and time restraints, to put it mildly.

Healthcare was fair, and they used at the time our Old White Oak Clinic, etc. It could have been better.

All and all, everything could have been a lot worse, but after all, we were criminals???

All administrative personnel had moments of personal conflicts, moral dilemmas, stress and strain, which all affected day-to-day operations and relationships with the inmates.

I might add that in my opinion, we could have done better all around.

But, Mr. Epperly, Jane Smith and other staff and our county commissioners did the best given all the dynamics at that time.

I believe in and haven’t lost faith entirely on the jail and judicial systems in our county. I would hope, as I am sure that you do, that we can all improve our way of life and others, regardless of circumstances.

Here is the hope for our city, county and nation: may God bless us and we keep Him in our forethoughts, things that would be pleasing to Him, and all respects and other things we call our human existence.

Michael Barton

Cassville