COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A detainee at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (ASG) said other detainees became ill last week after water and plumbing issues in the dorm caused toilets to back up.
While the detainee, who asked to remain anonymous, said some of the jail’s plumbing issues were ongoing, Richland County officials said all the plumbing issues have been resolved.
The detainee told WIS News 10 he and his cellmates have been complaining for a week and a half that the toilet in their dorm had stopped working.
That same detainee said the showers stopped working this weekend and as of 11:45 a.m. Monday had still had not been fixed.
“They’re treating us like animals back here. The main thing is, we’ll be yelling at them telling the toilets don’t work, and they’ll just ignore us. They act like they don’t hear us. They act like they don’t see us. We still aren’t able to wash yet,” he said.
Richland County administration said the detention center did experience hot water and toilet stoppages, but that they only happened between Thursday and Sunday this past week. The plumbing issues were immediately reported to jail administration by staff and resolved, county administration said in a statement.
Specifically, the county confirmed plumbing issues in Unit Uniform, pod F.
They also said they received no complaints from detainees during this time.
The detainee said some of the detention officers who supervise his dorm are inconsistent in their treatment.
”It depends on the C.O. and their mood. Sometimes we’re 23 and none. Sometimes we’re 23 and 45. Sometimes we’re 23 and 30. Sometimes we’re 23 and 1. It just depends on how they feel that day. Sunday, we had to beg from 6:30 in the morning until about 7 o’clock that night before we finally got let out to use the bathroom,” the detainee said.
The detainee told WIS the smell of ammonia in the dorm became so strong that many of his cellmates became physically ill.
‘Treating us like animals’: Detainees complain of plumbing issues at Richland County jail
The county denies that any detainees fell ill.
“There have been no detainees that have had to use the restroom in plastic bags nor has anyone fallen ill,” a statement from the county said.
The county also said the jail was staffed both Saturday and Sunday.
“We take these matters very seriously but again, there were no detainee grievances submitted,” a spokesperson for the county said. “Staff made the discovery, reported any issues immediately and those matters were resolved.”
Richland County’s jail has been plagued with issues for years and is currently under state and federal scrutiny.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the facility for civil rights violations and another inspection from the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) is expected soon.
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