JAIL SECURITY

Regardless of the security safeguards built into a county jail and the number of jailers assigned to watch over it, the cunning prisoner with nothing but time to design an escape will try to find a way out. As long as prisoners are permitted outside their cells into common areas, as they should be if they earn the right, the possibility of escape exists. Witness Russell E. Bucklew's crafty exit from the Cape Girardeau County Jail in Jackson last month.

Bucklew apparently convinced a jail trusty in the laundry room to help him into a trash bag, to tie the bag over his head and place him inside a garbage can. Supper refuse was put into the garbage can, and the can was carried by another trusty to another area, from which it went to a large trash container outside. From there Bucklew made his escape.

Bucklew, who faces a murder charge, was captured two days later after he allegedly stole a vehicle and assaulted two people apparently to avenge a former girlfriend whose boyfriend he is accused of killing. The trusty suspected of helping him into the bag faces charges in connection with the escape, and the one who carried the bag outside may yet be charged.

The escape is bringing about some changes. For starters, deputies instead of jail trusties are carrying out the trash until the jail installs a trash-compacting system that will prevent a repeat of an escape like the one Bucklew carried out. When a lot of activity takes place at the jail, as it was the night Bucklew escaped, prisoners won't be allowed out of their cells to participate in group events. And Sheriff John Jordan is considering installation of reflective glass in the jailers' booth so that prisoners won't be able to see whether jailers are watching them or doing other tasks.

As might be expected, the jail trusty program is coming under scrutiny. While it is proper that it be re-examined, a discontinuation of the program should not be a consideration.

Trusties, who are serving short jail terms for non-violent, misdemeanor offenses and are approved for the program by judges, are a valuable asset to the Cape Girardeau County Jail. They perform chores such as cooking, washing, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming, and have saved the county a great deal of money over the years. Small jails would find it difficult and expensive to operate without them. And the risk at the jail has been slight: Only once in recent years has a trusty escaped, and that was from a work detail at the Cape Girardeau County Park.

It is fortunate that Bucklew, whom authorities consider dangerous, didn't cause any more trouble than he did during his brief freedom. As it turned out, no one was seriously hurt, and it has led to Sheriff John Jordan, jail administrator Michael Morgan and others turning their attention to tighter jail security. The jail should be better off by it.