County jail security to receive $245,000 update

By late winter or early spring, the Callaway County Jail will be receiving a state-of-the-art $245,000 security system overhaul.
Updates will focus on the main control system at the "bubble," which overlooks the prisoners' day rooms. The system controls door locks and security cameras.
Presiding Callaway County Commissioner Gary Jungermann said he wanted to be clear the current system isn't weak - just old.
"There's no vulnerability," he said. "We want to be proactive instead of reactive."
The Callaway County Jail is a 104-bed facility operated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office. Its current system was installed in the late 1980s and features plenty of retro-style push buttons.
While some cameras have been replaced over the years, others still film in grainy black and white. The footage from some of the cameras can't be viewed live - meaning if a fight breaks out, there's a delay in identifying who started it while the footage is pulled.
"The clarity is not real good," Jungermann said. "Attorneys can argue that 'I'm not sure that's my client' when everyone in the room is pretty sure it is."
The new system will feature touch-screen panels and the ability for commanding officers to view and switch between camera feeds in real time.
"It allows the commanding officer to have a couple different monitors in front of them," Jungermann said. "It's a pretty sophisticated system, which is going to be great."
While the old system still functions well, it needs replacing in part because it will be hard to keep it functional into the future.
"It's like having a refrigerator that's 15 years old and the appliance guy says he can't find parts for it," Jungermann said.
The jail was starting to run into those issues, he added.
Part of the reason the county has stretched out use of the old system is the amount of money involved in replacing it. While the current estimated budget of $245,000 is lower than the sum consultants had cautioned the county commissioners to expect, it's still a significant amount.
Jungermann explained because the state views maintenance of county jails as a local concern, very little state or federal-level funding is available.
Funds will be drawn from general revenue as part of the county's 2017 budget.
"We've been talking about it for the last 24 months," Jungermann said. "We went through the process here a few months ago of talking to security companies about putting the security system in."
While no contract has officially been signed, the plan is for Accurate Controls to provide the system. Accurate is a highly reputed Wisconsin-based security automation company and has even been contracted by the federal government.
"So far, they're very good to work with," Jungermann said.
The company's owner has flown down to visit the facility already.
Accurate will build the system off-site and then deliver it to the jail. The installation process will take one to two weeks as they gradually switch over components.
"For a week or so, we'll be working off two systems so they won't have to shut the old system completely down," Jungermann explained.
After the system's fully installed, Accurate representatives will remain in town for two weeks to train jail personnel in every aspect of using the new system.
Callaway County Jail Superintendent Robbie Harrison reaffirmed there are no security concerns, both now and during the future transition process.
"If, for some reason, the control board does go down, we have keys," he said.