Woman charged with destroying jail mattress

A woman faces vandalism charges after she allegedly tore up her jail mattress trying to make a pillow.

The suspect, Jennifer Hamm, 27, an inmate at Warren County Jail, is charged with vandalism and destruction of private property for allegedly pulling the stuffing out of her mattress.

According to the arrest warrant against the inmate, Hamm was seen pulling the stuffing out of her mattress a week before, and was warned not to continue damaging jail property. When she was seen pulling the stuffing out again, formal charges were lodged against her.

‘It’s not unusual for us to charge inmates who destroy jail property,’ said Sheriff Jackie Matheny. ‘We usually give them a chance to make restitution but if they don’t we sometimes take it before the court.’

As for Hamm’s claim she was trying to make a pillow with the stuffing from her mattress, Matheny said that may have well been the case since there are no pillows permitted at Warren County Jail.

‘It’s a safety issue,’ Matheny said. ‘Pillow cases can be used to smother a person or they can be loaded with soap and other items that can be swung as a weapon. The best solution is not to have pillows at all since there are so many ways they can be used to harm others.’

Matheny said inmates can use towels and other soft items for pillows if they so desire.

‘The mattresses like the one which was being torn up are pretty expensive,’ Matheny added, pointing out the mattresses are flame resistant. He said pulling out the stuffing damages the mattress and hurts its resistance to fire since the stuffing becomes exposed. ‘It’s both a cost and a safety issue when something like this happens.’