Concerns about Jackson County jail conditions, as sheriff pushes back against legislative control

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]COMPLETE TWO BLOOD DRAWS AND HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

[00:00:04]KMBC NINE INVESTIGATES IS LOOKING INTO COMPLAINTS ABOUT JACKSON COUNTY’S NEW JAIL THAT’S ONLY BEEN OPEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS EVER SINCE MOVING IN, FAMILIES OF INMATES SAY THEY’VE HAD TROUBLE WITH FOOD, WATER AND PLUMBING.

[00:00:16]INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER MATT FLENER IS AT THE DETENTION CENTER.

[00:00:20]JACKSON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER HERE COST $320 MILLION TO BUILD.

[00:00:24]THE KMBC9 INVESTIGATES HAS GOTTEN MULTIPLE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM FAMILY OF INMATES INSIDE.

[00:00:29]SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

[00:00:32]ANGELA MCKEE HAS TWO SONS IN JAIL.

[00:00:34]SHE SAYS HER SONS HAVE COMPLAINED OF A LACK OF RUNNING WATER AND LATE DELIVERIES OF FOOD.

[00:00:39]SHE ALSO SAID COMMUNICATIONS WITH INMATES HAVE BEEN LACKING.

[00:00:42]SHE REACHED OUT TO KMBC9 INVESTIGATES TO SHARE HER CONCERNS, ALONG WITH OTHER FAMILIES WHO’VE REACHED OUT ABOUT CONDITIONS INSIDE.

[00:00:49]TWO IS MESSED UP.

[00:00:50]WE DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO TV, WE DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PHONE BECAUSE YOU HEAR SO MUCH.

[00:00:54]THAT’S TRUE ALL DAY LONG.

[00:00:55]SO I’M REACHING OUT TO THE NEWS TEAM.

[00:00:57]YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE TO RESPOND TO ME.

[00:00:59]THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE ALSO HAS QUESTIONS FOR THE SHERIFF.

[00:01:02]I SAID, LOOK, IF WE NEED TECHNOLOGIES, WE NEED SUPPORT SYSTEMS.

[00:01:05]WE NEED TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS.

[00:01:06]WE NEED TO KNOW FROM THE LEGISLATURE SO WE CAN HELP.

[00:01:09]TONIGHT AT FIVE, WE HEAR MORE FROM HIM ABOUT HOW THIS JAIL SHOULD OPERATE INTO THE FUTURE.

[00:01:15]MATT FLENER KMBC9.

[00:01:16]SHERIFF FORTÉ WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW.

[00:01:19]A STATEMENT SAYS THE JAIL HAS HAD PLUMBING ISSUES.

[00:01:21]THE REPORT SHOWS ONE SHOWER