People have been protesting for days, saying conditions inside the jail are unsafe for those detained and difficult for workers to manage. Some also point to risks to the public following a recent attempted escape.
John Grissom said he experienced those conditions firsthand during a night he spent in the jail after being arrested for allegedly abusing 911, a charge he disputes.
He said he was placed in a separate area for his safety.
"That was hell in there," Grissom said.
Grissom described limited visibility and said he had medical concerns while inside.
"You didn't have but just a small window to look out," he said.
He said he experienced chest pain and called for help, but no one responded.
"I kept hollering for the guard for come down there, nobody came down there. I banged on the door, I even kicked on the door loud so they could hear and the other inmates tried to help. I might as well forget it because nobody's coming down here," Grissom said.
Grissom said he remained in the jail until a friend posted bond the next day. He said what he witnessed compelled him to speak out.
"And I really feel sorry for them, and something's got to be done about this situation," he said.
The jail has faced a series of challenges, including crowding, fights and staffing issues. There have also been recent escape incidents, including one in which two inmates escaped and were later found in Asheville, and another attempted escape involving an murder suspect who reportedly obtained keys and was injured trying to climb a fence.
Days after they escaped, search continues for Vance County inmates
A man who wanted to be identified only as Micah, said he spent more than a year incarcerated at the facility, and said the situation is not surprising.
"It's a mess, I mean it's a jungle it's nothing but straight chaos down there, they can't get it under control, the SEOs get scared to even come down to the dorms and stuff like that," he said.
Micah said he has since moved on.
"No looking back. No looking back," he said.
Family members of current inmates are also raising concerns.
Kelly Roberts said her son is being held at the jail and worries about his safety.
"My biggest fear for him in there is his safety," Roberts said.
She said her last conversation with him was Saturday.
"And my son is telling me he is brushing his teeth with a cloth because they have not provided a toothbrush for him," she said.
Roberts and others have joined protests outside the facility, calling for action.
"This place needs to be shut down, they do not need to keep operating and I do not understand why the state has not stepped to shut it down," she said.
Others say the issues inside the jail could pose a broader risk.
"If they're not safe inside of there cause they don't have enough people to watch over and then they escaping, wouldn't that make us unsafe," Karen Perry said.
Vance County Commissioner Valencia Perry said the county has approved funding requests from the sheriff's office but wants to better understand the situation.
"We need to get up out of our seats and go and see, that's real talk, so we need to get off the benches and go look in there," she said.
Perry said she is pushing for a public safety meeting so the sheriff can address concerns directly.
"Have they given you an update? I haven't received anything back yet, But you know what, I'm going to keep knocking," she said.
Perry said she is working to gain support from fellow commissioners for the meeting. The sheriff, Curtis Brame, has not responded to requests for comment.
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