Detention Center
Major Rusty Sweezy
250-4582
The Buncombe County Detention Facility is the 149,000 square
foot county jail, located at 20 Davidson Drive in downtown
Asheville. A maximum of 356 inmates can be housed at this
facility. (19) The fourth, fifth, and sixth floors are the
areas of inmate housing, with the fourth floor designated
for the high-crime and misbehavior inmates, and the sixth
floor housing the minor offenders. The new, updated facility
was completed in 1994, moving the jail from the courthouse
to the new facility. The sheriff is required by law to operate
a county jail.
- Jail Administrator: The jail administrator plans, directs,
and supervises all activities of the detention facility;
determines staffing and equipment needs; works with the
fiscal control officer on the annual budget; investigates
any complaints.
- Assistant Jail Administrator: The assistant jail administrator
helps the jail administrator in supervising the employees
and inmate activity, and oversees the maintenance of inmate
paperwork.
- Jail Shift Supervisor: The jail shift supervisor oversees
the employees on the current shift, trains new jailers,
and supervises medicine and mail distribution to the inmates.
- Jailers: Jailers admit prisoners; book and search inmates;
collect personal belongings from inmates for safe keeping;
arrange visitation between inmates and their families; patrols
the entire jail area on a regular basis; maintain inmate
paperwork; and supervise the inmates.
- Transportation officer: The transportation officer transports
inmates to and from other jails, prisons, and mental health
centers, and also assists the jailers when needed.
- Detention Facility LPN/Medical Technician: The LPN and
Medical Technician are the on-duty health care providers
for the inmates. They distribute medicine, perform health
evaluations, perform first aid, and access medical situations
to determine further action.
- Kitchen Staff: The kitchen staff prepares all inmate meals,
serve meals, maintain record of meals served, stock the
kitchen food and supplies, clean the kitchen area, and plan
meals for inmates with special dietary needs, such as diabetics.
- Classification Officers: The classification officers place
inmates in the appropriate section of the detention facility
based on the inmate's gender, age, behavioral patterns and
criminal history.
- Administrative Staff: The administrative staff is a group
of employees that perform various tasks, such as employee
training, purchasing, and payroll.
The Buncombe County Detention Facility must maintain order
and control when dealing with a large group of criminals.
Inmates have some privileges and opportunities, which are
explained below.
Inmates are allowed to have up to five visitors during the
following times:
Tuesday and Thursday only, from:
- 0900 to 1000
- 1000 to 1100
- 1300 to 1400
- 1400 to 1500
- 1900 to 2000
- 2000 to 2100
Inmate meal times are as follows:
- 0600 hours Breakfast
- 1100 hours Lunch
- 1600 hours Dinner
Inmates have only six hours each day out of their cells.
This time can be spent watching television, showering, or
talking with other inmates. The specific hours of free time
are as follows:
- 0930 to 1030 hours
- 1400 to 1600 hours
- 1800 to 2100 hours
The commissary is the inmate store where health and comfort
items may be purchased. Inmates can receive money from their
family and friends to spend in the commissary. Items such
as aspirin, crackers, and sodas may be purchased in the commissary,
which is only open to the inmates on Sunday, Tuesday, and
Thursday.
The Buncombe County Detention Facility follows many guidelines
and regulations for the purpose of maintaining order and control.
No control of the inmates could result in disaster. Jailers
have only their minds and their mouths to supervise; jailers
do not carry weapons.
Buncombe County Detention Facility
(828) 250-4550. |
