Inmate visitations and phone services at the Putnam County Jail halted temporarily after thunderstorms this week caused issues.
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said lightning struck a server that operates the inmate phone system and visitation kiosks. Both systems are expected to be out of service for seven to ten days. Farris said he is hoping it will be fixed sooner.
“It depends on what they find and exactly what we need to replace it,” Farris said. “If we have the parts on hand, or if we have to order some of that stuff. But anyway, we are working hard to restore that, and we hate that it happened, but sometimes it does, and you know it’s just one of those things we’ll work through it and get it repaired as soon as we can.”
Farris said the temporary closures have surely disturbed some inmates. Farris said alternative methods of visitations will not be used.
“The other ways would cost money to get it up and running, and that’s not the system we want to use,” Farris said. “So we’ll stick with this one and we’ll get it fixed as soon as we can and get people back into their normal routine.”
Farris said he understands the importance of phone services and visitations for inmates. Farris said the Sheriff’s Office wants the inmates to be able to use the phone and visitation services.
Farris said replacing the server would not cost the county any money. Farris said the full extent of what needs to be replaced is still unknown.
“So right now it appears maybe a server, or at least one of the servers, is the main cause,” Farris said. “So we are running through that as we speak, and they are working on that, and hopefully at the end of the day that’s all we need.”