NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk City Jail air conditioning is broken in some areas of the building.
According to a spokeswoman for the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, the air conditioning system for the fifth and sixth floors is old, and it broke Wednesday morning.
The unit was unable to be fixed by maintenance staff.
This affects 200 inmates in the Norfolk City Jail.
The city got a vendor to help fix the problem and to perform an emergency repair, but it could take about a month to completely fix.
The jail is a very old building and has a history of temperature control issues. The city has been made aware of a recent inspection of the jail in which it was noted that the air handlers, duct work, and ventilation system need cleaning. Windows on one side of the building also need to be replaced.
The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office says they are doing everything they can to keep inmates and employees comfortable.
In July, inmates were issues shorts and t-shirts to wear for the first time in jail history. Deputies are permitted to wear short-sleeved uniforms.
The jail will keep large fans and water coolers in the affected areas and will keep a daily log of temperature readings.
