Grand jury says local jail is filthy, must be cleaned up shut

From the May 28, 1953 Argus-Observer

The Malheur County grand jury reported that its members visited a local city jail and found it so filthy it needed to be cleaned up or shut down.

There were “no shower or bathing facilities … and no mattresses on the beds,” the jury noted after looking in on the Ontario, Oregon city jail.

After concluding that the conditions were “filthy and unsanitary,” the grand jury --- which had civil investigative powers – forwarded its report to the mayor, city council and state health authority.