Proctor Should Be In Jail With Sheriff

From the T&G:

Sheriff's office answers jail food allegations

Dear Editor,
I am writing to address the one-sided media coverage about the feeding of inmates in the Camden County Jail and to quell the red-hot half-truths and innuendoes before they become accepted as cold hard facts. I also want to say on the record that the recent assault on Sheriff Bill Smith and the sheriff's office is politically motivated, with Steve Berry leading the charge. Has everyone forgotten that Tommy Gregory's wife is Steve Berry's secretary? This is no longer responsible journalism. This is a political witch hunt.Before Mr. Berry casts aspersions on the sheriff, perhaps he should look at the example set by himself and his fellow commissioners. Was there ever a less organized board? Between the egos, the personal vendettas and the pork barreling, it's a wonder anything ever gets done. It's not the sheriff's office that has made Camden County the laughingstock of South Georgia.
And while we're on the subject, what treatment did Steve Berry get when he was an inmate in the Camden County Jail? Did he enjoy the food? We also need to remember that Mr. Berry is an expert in crafting fiction.We feed the inmates at the Camden County Jail for about $3.60 per day. We did try to outsource the feeding of inmates to a private company and quickly discovered that the quality of the food decreased while the cost increased to more than $5.50 per day per inmate. We pride ourselves on furnishing the inmates with three solid meals a day. All the preparation, serving and cleanup is done by the inmates themselves. We also rely on many contributions of bread, foodstuffs and produce to keep the quality of the meals high and the costs low. Regardless of what we serve, it is the cheapest food that our vendor has to offer at that time.The ice cream (which was paid for by the profits from the inmate commissary, not our tax dollars) was a reward for a job well done of painting and cleaning the facility. Twenty gallons of ice cream was cheaper than hiring a painting contractor. We do not have the luxury of putting the inmates away and pretending they don't exist. We have to deal with them as people. Who does it harm to be kind? Most of them have already had enough maltreatment in their lives.The board relies on the same old trick time and again. During budget discussions, we forecast what we will need for any particular line item. What they do then is not fund the line item at the level we requested and then blame us for going over budget when the actual cost comes in at the amount we originally requested. Like so many things at the board, it's a shell game.

I believe it's time for the truth, not political grandstanding. Don't believe everything you hear.

Maj. James K. Proctor
Jail Administrator

TRSP Review: Proctor has known all this time about all the illegal things that have gone on, yet he only comments on the food for inmate, which we already know that the inmates did not eat that food. What about the BBQ?

Why does our Sheriff's Office point out the citizens that have been in jail for small crimes and not comment on the ones the Sheriff brings back to our county convicted of manufacturing drugs.

Yes Proctor, I do believe it is time for the truth as well. Why don't we start with you? As chief jailer you are responsible to know were the inmates are at all times, so you know they have worked on Bill's House, and probably yours too. Not to mention all the other employees. I would guess you know about the payments to drug dealers? Yet you did not speak out against it. Why? It's time for the truth, come on.


So what you are saying is that it is a crime for a candidate's wife to work for Steve Berry, yet it's OK to pay drug dealers.

You Sir are just as guilty as Bill and I hope you both share a cell together.

Mr. Proctor once you get out of jail I can assure you your job will not be waiting for you.