The Lexington County Detention Center received a C, the lowest Food Grade given out by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, for the second time in less than two years.

The detention center received a B (81%) on a routine inspection conducted Nov. 29 and was downgraded to a C (95%) after a follow-up conducted Dec. 7. The facility was able to increase to an A (100%), with no violations, after a follow-up conducted Dec. 14,

The B and C reports listed violations including evidence of roaches and rodents, spoiled produce and dirt and rust in food storage areas.

The facility is the central jail for Lexington County and is operated by the local Sheriff's Department.

Jails differ from other food locations that receive poor grades in that inmates have no other food option outside of what the jail provides, Paul Bowers, director of communications for state ACLU, emphasized, stating that it violates inmate rights.

The Constitution “guarantees all of us freedom from cruel and unusual, cruel and unusual punishment. Feeding people unsafe food while they're in captivity, is certainly cruel,” he said.

“When any public agency is entrusted with the lives of people in their care, there is a duty to provide the basics of life to them,” Bowers added. “You can't put people in jail and deny them clean food, clean water, the basics that they need to sustain themselves. That's really a bedrock part of our Constitution here.”

“The safety, security, health and feeding of the inmates housed at the Lexington County Detention Center are among the top priorities of those who work in the facility, including LCSD staff and contractors,” Capt. Adam Myrick, public information office for the sheiff's department, told the Chronicle. “We’re fortunate to have a dining services contractor that strives for a high level of health and nourishment when it comes to the preparation and delivery of inmate meals.

“When concerns need to be addressed, the contractor’s employees collaborate with us to ensure regulatory standards are met and public health best practices are carried out,” he continued. “That’s what happened in advance of the unannounced follow-up inspection after the Dec. 7 report. The follow-up inspection led to a 100 percent score and the facility’s current ‘A’ rating.”

The report from Nov. 29 noted evidence of roaches and rodents throughout the relevant parts of the facility. The Dec. 7 report again noted rodent activity, adding that a pest control visit was scheduled for Dec. 10.

The Nov. 29 DHEC report additionally noted employees dumping rinse buckets outside on the ground with food and water waste outside a back entrance. A gloved dishwasher was also observed washing dirty dishes and then grabbing clean dishes without removing the gloves and washing their hands.

The report also noted that the walk-in refrigerator had spoiled cucumbers and cabbage and that shelves where food trays were stored had dirt, debris and rust. Additionally noted were open and exposed bags of flour, vegetable additives and more throughout dry storage areas. Powder from food, flour and sugar was observed on shelves throughout the dry storage areas as well; this was reported again as a consecutive violation in the Dec. 7 report.

Also noted in the Nov. 29 report was a leak at a hand sink and a hose at the mop sink unable to turn off and constantly running hot water, with both issues noted again in the Dec. 7 report. The second report also noted a backflow device was not installed in the mop sink.

The detention center previously received a C in the spring of 2022. An April 4 inspection that year resulted in a B (84%), and rodent droppings were observed behind and around machinery in the center’s dried storage area, A follow-up conducted April 13 downgraded the center to a C (94%), noting a consecutive violation for the droppings, adding that they were seen behind bulk bagged food items on shelves, and additionally noted roach casings behind and around machinery in the center’s dried storage area.

According to Bowers, such issues with food service at jails and prisons aren’t unusual within the state, adding that the ACLU is currently involved in a lawsuit with the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice due to their recurring issues with food service.

“The root of a lot of our problems in corrections in the state is that South Carolina as a state locks up a larger proportion of its population than any country on Earth,” he said, adding that this leads to overcrowding and understaffing and emphasizing the need for solutions. “We use our jails and prisons as a catch all rather than address the root causes of crime and poverty.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.