JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Authorities were forced to move 400 inmates from their cells at the Duval County jail after the locks on their cells malfunctioned.
Jail spokesman Christian Hancock said the locks worked but required a corrections officer to manually operate each cell. When the system is working properly, officers can use an electronic-locking mechanism that allows all cells to be operated at one time.
The Florida Times-Union (http://tinyurl.com/nre7tmf ) reports the problem was discovered a week ago, prompting officials to move inmates to other floors. The locks were fixed Wednesday.
Sheriff's officials said the female inmates stayed on the floor with the broken locks, according to the Sheriff's Office.
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Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com
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