Administrators of the city’s jail had the tough task of defending operations in the long-troubled facility yesterday. Not only that, but jail commissioner Nate Hayward had to make his case in front of a room full of people who want to see the facility undergo systemic reform or shut down completely.
Hayward told an aldermanic committee that the jail has revamped its use-of-force policy, increased access to tablets, and allowed detainees to see medical staff within a day of entering the jail. He estimated that there have only been about 20 use-of-force incidents in the last 60 days.
Yet virtually all the answers that Hayward gave to questions from the aldermen on the committee drew guffaws from the audience, who at times shouted accusations at Hayward of dodging questions…