Jail consultants cost feds over $37,000


News Release by Retired Jailer Cliff Gill 

As part of my research for a book I’m writing on the jail I asked the U.S. Justice Department, under the Freedom of Information Act, how much money was paid to the three consultants who conducted the seven year investigation into the jail.

            The request was sent to the DOJ the last of December and I received a reply in a letter dated February 14, 2006.
           
            The investigation was started in November 1998 and hopefully ended with a September 2005 visit.   However, as of this date, the feds have not given a final report.
 
            The three consultants who composed the investigative team were....Eugene Miller, jail consultant, Jim Balsamo, health and safety consultant and Dr. Joseph Fowlkes, medical consultant. 
           
            The letter listing the salaries of the three consultants was sign by Nelson D. Hermilla, Chief, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts Branch,  Civil Rights Division.
 

  • Eugene Miller was paid $13,557.99
  • James Balsamo was paid $9,834.07
  • Joseph Fowlkes was paid $14,049.58
     
            This puts the total amount paid to the three consultants at over $37,000 which is in line with figures given to me years ago by the late Jailer Harold Taylor of Daviess County.
           
            The feds started an investigation into the Owensboro jail about a year before they started the Paducah probe.   Harold told me that he had learned the consultants were paid $1,000 to $1,500 a day.  There were two different teams that conducted the investigations.

            The $37,000  isn’t the full cost of the seven year investigation since it doesn’t include the salary of DOJ Attorney Andrew Barrick  and other expenses.

The working title of the book I’m writing is Doing Time for A Living; A jailer’s Story.    I don’t have a date as to when it will be completed.  I presently (Feb 23rd) have written over 230 pages.
 
Cliff Gill
McCracken County Jailer 1993-2005