Category: Media Center

SHERIFF DARON HALL WORKING TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION DURING
COVID-19 NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
Criminal justice system leaders must continue to reduce number of inmates in Davidson County jails as they balance public health and public safety

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall announced today he has initiated plans to reduce the number of inmates in sheriff’s office custody. Those include expansion of pre-trial release (PTR) criteria and elimination of the work release program. PTR participants are expected to double over the next few days and all work release inmates are being furloughed immediately.

“Additionally, I am working with Chief Public Defender Martesha Johnson by providing her lists of medically high-risk individuals who may qualify for release, including pregnant inmates,” Hall said. “As sheriff, I am working to reduce the number of individuals in our custody and it’s imperative all criminal justice leaders do the same.”

While many in the system work toward necessary releases, misdemeanor arrests have increased over the past two weeks. Hall emphasized in these unprecedented times, we must take bold action and the system cannot continue to operate under a “business as usual” mindset.

“As stated last week, we fully expect to have COVID-19 positive cases in our facilities. It’s critical we reduce the inmate population now. As criminal justice leaders we need to take action because of the serious impact this virus will have on sheriff’s office staff and inmates.” Hall concluded.

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DCSO Employees –

As you might imagine, we are working to keep our pulse on the latest information circulating about COVID-19 or Coronavirus. I need you to keep an eye on the Monitor while at work and social media, when home, for announcements/decisions leadership is making – because much of it involves you.

Beginning Thursday at 3 p.m., all employees, vendors, or others who walk through checkpoint will have their temperature taken by a DCSO staff member (infrared/no touch thermometer). This includes attorneys. If an individual’s temperature is 100 degrees or above, he/she will be refused entry into the facility.

Each facility has detailed post instructions for the employee checking the temperatures, instructions for the Lt. should someone register 100 or above, and a document that will be provided to any person who is denied entry due to a fever. We anticipate a version of this procedure will be in place at all DCSO locations/divisions by next week.

I ask each of you to remain vigilant in facility/personal space sanitation as health officials continue to emphasize:

• Wash your hands;
• Clean your work space;
• Practice social distancing when possible;
• Cover your mouth and nose (not with your hands) when coughing or sneezing;
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth;
• Stay home if you are sick.

Thanks for all you are doing to keep our agency operating during this time of national and local crisis.

Be safe and well,

Sheriff Daron Hall

During this national public health emergency, Sheriff Daron Hall has halted all evictions and service of other civil papers until further notice. A few exceptions will apply including orders of protection, child custody orders, papers related to protection of elderly or vulnerable persons, and emergency mental health orders.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     CONTACT: Karla West

03132020                   615.862.8235

SHERIFF DARON HALL ANNOUNCES OPERATIONAL CHANGES TO REDUCE CORONAVIRUS EXPOSURE
Priority is making staff and inmate environment as safe as possible

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall announced Friday he has implemented changes to reduce the chances of Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) employees and inmates being exposed to Coronavirus, COVID-19. Those changes, all beginning Monday, include non-essential, non-public safety employees working from home, video visitation for inmates (exception made for attorneys), and volunteer programs are suspended until further notice. Clergy may schedule video visits.

In a correctional environment, cleaning measures are always of utmost importance; however, DCSO understands these are unique times and is taking extra cleaning measures to ensure safety of both staff and inmates. Center for Disease Control posters are hanging in all facilities and inmate housing areas indicating how to stop the spread of germs and how to recognize symptoms. Personal protective equipment is available for staff and leadership is emphasizing: Wash Your Hands.

“At this point, we have not had any employees or inmates present with symptoms, but we anticipate that happening,” Hall said. “Although we are a microcosm of the community, our population is high risk for communicable diseases. We are working closely with the health care provider, contracted through the health department. Any housing decisions, when it comes to presumptive cases will be directed by medical staff.”

 The Day Reporting Program and DUI Safety School, located at 1417 Murfreesboro Pike, will suspend programming until further notice. Additionally, those required to self-report and serve “weekend time” will be credited for their time upon arrival, then immediately released. Individuals who received a citation and are scheduled to report for booking at the Justice A.A. Birch Building, should not report. In conjunction with court closures, this process will be closed until April 13. Hall hopes these procedures assist in limiting exposure and is exploring alternatives to decrease the number of incarcerated.

 “Over the past couple of days, I have been in conversation with various Nashville criminal justice leaders regarding the reduction of our overall inmate population. Some ideas we are considering include releasing medically, high-risk inmates, releasing those approaching the end of their sentence, and expanded use of citations in lieu of physical arrests. 

According to Hall, DCSO’s correctional leadership remains networked on a national level regarding COVID-19 trends and actions necessary to limit exposure. They have participated in numerous conference calls on this subject to stay informed and watched a webinar earlier today.

Finally, in an effort to create “social distancing,” upcoming DCSO-sponsored events that bring large crowds of employees together have been postponed until further notice.

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MEDIA ADVISORY
March 13, 2020

At approximately 11:46 a.m., officers responded to the Hill Detention Center cell of inmate Drew Stennett, 32. Upon arrival, he was found unresponsive. A code green was called and correctional staff initiated CPR immediately. Stennett, who was seen by medical earlier today
and medically screened during the booking process, was transported to Nashville General Hospital at Meharry and pronounced deceased at 12:27 p.m.

He was arrested and booked Thursday on a probation violation with an arrest history of Driving Under the Influence, driving on a suspended license, and aggravated assault.

The investigation is ongoing and foul play is not suspected. Coronavirus is also not suspected. Autopsy and toxicology reports are pending.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE ALEX FRIEDMANN ARRESTED
The criminal justice advocate and managing editor of Prison Legal News charged with attempted burglary for actions at the new Downtown Detention Center

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall announced Sunday Alex Friedmann, 50, a longtime criminal justice advocate and managing editor of Prison Legal News is free on bond after being charged with attempted burglary, evidence tampering, and possession of burglary tools. He was arrested Saturday at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Downtown Detention Center (DDC) after entering the building fraudulently. The newly constructed, 762-bed, maximum security facility is in its final stages of completion and does not currently house inmates.

On Monday, December 30, DCSO lieutenants were in the DDC control room and noticed a set of keys with a ring that looked different from the others. After an audit, it was confirmed two facility keys were missing. Upon reviewing video surveillance, an individual dressed like a construction worker wearing a yellow vest and dust mask and matching the description of Friedmann, was seen spray painting around the key control room door. He entered the room and placed a key ring in his pocket, left the DDC through the front lobby, returned two hours later, and replaced the keys, again with two missing. It was also discovered he previously entered the building under false pretenses on at least three other occasions.

At approximately 1 p.m. Saturday, deputies monitoring the DDC cameras noticed an individual entering DDC who matched the description of the suspect from the December 30 incident. The individual, later determined to be Friedmann, was detained in an area of the DDC until Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers arrived. An igloo cooler Friedmann carried into the facility contained bolt cutters, a key chit (used in corrections as a security measure to identify keys), and a document identified as schematics of the DDC. Friedman was also seen on video trying to destroy this document by “ripping it and chewing it up” according to the affidavit.

“The seriousness of Mr. Friedmann’s charges cannot be ignored. His actions have placed the safety and security of our entire community in peril, not to mention DCSO staff and inmates,”Hall said. “There are many items of value in a $200 million facility that can be stolen if your motivation is profit. There is only one reason for these sinister acts and that is to compromise our ability to maintain a secure facility and that is unconscionable and dangerous for everyone.”

The investigation is ongoing and DCSO will continue to work in cooperation with MNPD.

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Editor’s Note: Security surveillance video will not be released in accordance with state law.