2 More Guards Suspended in Md. Jail Probe

Vernon Herron, the county's director of public safety, said yesterday that the recent allegations concerning the jail should be understood in context.

"The correctional center is not in crisis," Herron said. "Our correctional officers put their lives on the line day in and day out. It's unfortunate that a few of the officers would breach security protocols for their own private gain."

Herron said that policy and personnel changes are being made to improve security at the jail and that he would be monitoring the facility's day-to-day operations.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) said: "We're working closely with police and corrections investigators to get to the bottom of this matter. We want to make sure that any and all inmates and corrections officers who are implicated in any criminal wrongdoing are prosecuted."

Thursday, during a speech before the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) said he had visited the jail the previous day. "I am proud to say that it is clean, very livable, disciplined and they have appropriate programs for our inmates," he said.

Staff writer Rosalind S. Helderman contributed to this report.