Grayson County Jailer Jason Woosley spoke for the first time on Wednesday at a Grayson County coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing.
Woosley offered COVID-19 related data on the Grayson County Detention Center after county officials received requests for information from the public, according to Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson.
There has been considerable concern about county jails and state and federal correctional institutions in Kentucky being petri dishes promoting the spread of COVID-19, particularly at the Green River Correctional Complex in Central City.
The 982-bed medium/minimum security adult male correctional facility, operated by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, has given rise to 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The positive cases have been a mixture of staff and inmates.
The Grayson County Detention Center, as of Thursday morning, has 563 inmates – 480 in the primary facility on Shaw Station Road; 44 at the Annex; and 39 at the female facility – and 122 employees, with zero positive COVID-19 tests, Woosley said.
Early action by Woosley and his staff has likely contributed to the facility not having positive cases, as Woosley said that on March 12 the jail was closed to all in-person traffic, including attorneys and law enforcement personnel from outside Grayson County. He noted that inmates’ court appearances are “currently being done by video conferencing for the most part,” as per order of the Kentucky Supreme Court.
“The temperature of jail staff is being taken as they arrive at the facility,” Woosley said, and detention center deputies have been placed on rotating schedules to assist in limiting interaction and stop the spread of the virus if someone was to test positive. The deputies are also wearing personal protective equipment while at work.
Woosley said they have tested a “few staff members after they came into contact with someone in the public who tested positive” for the virus. Tests have also been conducted on deputies who displayed a slightly elevated temperature, as well.
The jailer said seven such tests have been administered to staff members, with six tests returned negative and one pending. He noted that he anticipates the pending test will come back negative for COVID-19.
Woosley was effusive in praising his staff for their adaptability and professionalism during the pandemic.
“I’d like to thank my staff,” he said. “They are doing a phenomenal job. They are taking whatever comes at them and running with it in a professional manner as they always should, and they always do. And I can’t say how much I appreciate that and how proud I am of every one of them.”
Questions about an incarcerated loved one
Woosley noted that if anyone has questions about a loved one who is incarcerated to please call the jail anytime, day or night, at 270-259-3636. His staff is knowledgeable enough to answer any questions, he said.
Woosley said he is at the facility Monday through Friday from about 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 or 3:30 p.m.
Services provided to the community by inmates on hold
The jailer said the services the jail’s inmates provide the community have been “placed on hold for the most part,” as work-eligible inmates are being kept inside and away from the public. He added that the detention center is “trying to complete some of the jobs we promise out to the community each year, but we’re limited on what we can do.”
If anyone has “an issue we need to address,” Woosley said to contact the facility and “we’ll do our best to stay on top of that.” Additionally, some mowing will be done (no roadside mowing), and if there is a “bad spot that needs to be addressed” regarding mowing grass he asked that one call the jail and they will “address the situation.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
