By C1 Staff
YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima County jail is getting a huge overhaul to upgrade the safety inside the facility.
Upgrades include touch panels that allow remote access and better surveillance of inmates, doors with port holes that allow for handcuffing inmates before exiting the cell, and riot doors at the end of each hall for the level with the most violent inmates, according to the Yakima Herald.
The project has been in the works for the past three years and cost a total of $5.7 million after the county sold bonds to help pay for the upgrades.
Other updates include bars to prevent inmate access to the main control room, improved cameras and an intercom system to better monitor inmates moving in and out of their cells.
Previously, officers had to leave the control room and walk down a long hall to respond to inmates who had pushed an emergency alarm button in their cells. Officials said the buttons were often abused for non-emergencies.
The project also called for additional rooms for inmates to meet with attorneys and the replacement of large dorms that house more inmates on the second floor, but neither fit into the budget.