Ballew Ends 13 Years At Detention Facility

Merle Ballew heard the clang of the jail house doors for the last time Friday when he handed over his set of jail-cell keys, leaving behind 13 years employment with the Spartanburg County Detention Facility for retirement.

Ballew, 58, joined the Sheriff’s Department in August 1971 as a bookkeeper/ cashier under Sheriff Charles Alverson. He moved to the county jail a few weeks later when the Sheriff’s Department gave up control of the jail and placed it in the care of a warden.

He was assistant to the warden for 11 years and was named acting warden between the tenures of four wardens -- once for 13 months.

Ballew said he once turned down the job of warden because it was more work than he wanted. Since 1982 he has been a detention officer.

Asked whether he felt he had a positive influence over inmates at the county jail, the Landrum native said, “Yes I've tried to do my part to rehabilitate them. I helped each and every one as much as I legally could. My reasoning is that they are people; you have to treat them fair. They are not guilty until tried.

Although he feels detention officers should treat prisoners humanely, Ballew said recent attempts to “rehabilitate” criminals have failed. “You have too many repeaters. Drugs and alcohol play a great part in crimes committed today. If a person is addicted, he has to get money some way.”

A few inmates at the county jail are “spending a life sentence 10 to 30 days at a time,” Ballew said. “Some will give their address as the city or county jail.”

Rehabilitation for some prisoners would be best served by returning to the chain gang, according to Ballew. “I have talked to many who preferred chain gang camps to jail. It allows them a certain amount of mobility and freedom.”

Prisoners in chain gang camps often grew their own food, too, thereby costing the county less, he said. By working on the county roads some prisoners got their first taste of the discipline of work.

If you have to be in jail, though, the Spartanburg facility is not a bad one to land in compared to many, Ballew said. Lately, prisoners are treated better than they may have been in years past. “We treat them all decently.”

There are televisions in the cells, telephones, newspapers, a small library, and recreation is provided every weekday. “That means a lot to prisoners,” Ballew said.

“All in all, as far as being in jail, the county jail is as nice as they come.”

Sooner or later, if one works in a jail, he will face an escape attempt. “I did have a break-out once where they tied up a guard and broke out the windows and got out,” Ballew said. Back then the upstairs windows did not have security screens, he added.

Most county prisoners have more sense than to try escaping because they know it will result in added jail time, he said. “You’d have to be desperate to try it.”

What kind of rapport do the jailers and prisoners have?

For the jailer's part, “we are easy on them” says Ballew. “On hot days the warden sends up Kool-Aid from the kitchen.” “We do not go around beating up prisoners,” as some would have the public believe. “I have heard of police brutality, but I have never seen it.”

“You have to defend yourself,” he adds. However, “We can use only the force it takes to subdue - nothing more.”

Very few inmates cause jailers problems, Ballew said. “Most just want to do their time and get back in society.”

Nevertheless, Ballew’s philosophy in dealing with trouble is “You have to learn to respond as a professional.” Which means if a man yells at you every time you pass by, you ignore him and he soon quits, he said.

Ballew firmly believes that if a prisoner were to attack him “the other inmates would step in and get him away from me.”

As proof that human beings inhabit both sides of the bars in the county jail, Ballew said, “I've had them write me letters - one wrote me a song. If you don't treat them fair, they won’t do that. I was firm but fair.”

Though he like his job, Ballew said he is “tickled about being able to retire this young.”

“I plan to loaf awhile. I love camping out in the mountains. I guess that’s why I retired so early - to be able to enjoy myself while I'm still young enough to.”

Ballew is married and has a grown daughter.