Grenada county jail facing problems 09-14-2009

GRENADA COUNTY JAIL IS FACING A PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHER JAILS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE DEALING WITH AT VARIOUS LEVELS. OFFICIALS WITH THE GRENADA COUNTY JAIL SAY THEY ARE FACING ILLEGAL CONTRABAND WITHIN THEIR PRISON. MANY OF THE INMATES SNEAK IN CELL PHONES AND OTHER ILLEGAL ITEMS IN ORDER TO HAVE CONTACT OUTSIDE THE PRISON. WARDEN WILLIAM TEDFOR WITH THE GRENADA COUNTY PRISON COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT, BUT DID TELL THE GRENADA STAR THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING BATTLE AMONG INMATES. HE SAYS THAT ONCE THEY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STOP THEM, THEY THINK OF OTHER CREATIVE TACTICS TO GET ILLEGAL ITEMS INTO THE FACILITY. IF AN INMATE IS CAUGHT WITH A CELL PHONE, IT IS A FELONY CHARGE AND AN EXTRA THREE YEARS ADDED ONTO THEIR SENTENCE. THE JAILS HAVE ALREADY CONFISCATED SEVEN CELL PHONES THIS YEAR ALONE. MANY OF THE CELL PHONES ARE USED TO CONDUCTED DRUG OR GANG ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS, OR ARE USED TO CONTACT FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS. JAIL OFFICIALS SAYS THEY ARE ALWAYS USING THE HIGHEST SECURITY, AND DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN TO CONTROL THE INMATE ACTIVITY.