Savannah Chrisley has claimed that service dogs are treated better than inmates at the ‘inhumane’ prison where her mother is incarcerated.
The 25-year-old took to her podcast, Unlocked, to slam the Federal Medical Center Lexington, Kentucky, arguing that it ‘has no air’ for those behind bars.
Her mother Julie, 50, has been locked up at the facility since mid-January after being found guilty of taking part in a $30million tax fraud scheme and sentenced to seven years.
Savannah’s father Todd, 53, is now also serving 12 years for his role in the enterprise – but is housed in a different jail.
Savannah Chrisley has claimed that service dogs are treated better than inmates at the ‘inhumane’ prison where her mother is incarcerated
Her mother Julie, 50, (pictured with Savannah) has been locked up at the facility since mid-January after being found guilty of taking part in a $30million tax fraud scheme
The 25-year-old took to her podcast, Unlocked, to slam the Federal Medical Center Lexington (pictured), Kentucky, arguing that it ‘has no air’ for those behind bars
Speaking on the latest episode, released on February 14, Savannah told special guest Britney Ruby Miller: ‘My mom’s in a facility that has no air, but yet there are service dogs for the prison that are in a heated and cooled building because it’s inhumane for them not to have air.
‘I read an executive order that Biden signed that said all federal inmates must be housed in environmentally-friendly facilities and I’m like, “OK, well, this is completely opposite of that.”‘
The former TV star also argued that people are unaware of ‘how corrupt the system is’ until it impacts them.
But the Federal Bureau of Prisons has disputed her claims.
In a statement to FEMAIL, the organization said: ‘For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not release information on the conditions of confinement for any inmate or group of inmates.
‘However, we can share, the Bureau of Prisons’ institutions are accredited by the American Correctional Association.
‘ACA Standards cover environmental conditions, including temperature and air quality… [and] discusses temperatures in indoor living and work areas appropriate for summer and winter.’
Elsewhere in the podcast episode, Savannah spoke candidly about how seeing her father with gray hair in prison was ‘really weird’ after he was forced to give up on hair dye behind bars.
Elsewhere in the podcast episode, Savannah spoke candidly about how seeing her father with gray hair in prison was ‘really weird’
Savannah’s father Todd, 53, (pictured with Julie in 2014) is now serving 12 years for his role in the fraudulent enterprise – but is housed in a different jail
She said: ‘I will say, it’s really weird seeing him with gray hair. Like, really weird.’
Britney, who is responsible for luxury steakhouses in her role as CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, asked: ‘It’s already gray?’
To which, Savannah responded: ‘He’s definitely used some color over the years, and now seeing him with gray hair, I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this is really weird.”‘
His new look is a departure from his usual shock of blond hair which he sported on the family’s USA Network reality show, Chrisley Knows Best.
Delving further into her prison visit, Savannah added: ‘Even visiting my dad, I know I have so much hope and so much restored strength that I’m like, ‘This isn’t the end.’
But this is not the first time Savannah has given fans a glimpse of the new Chrisley family dynamic.
In previous episodes of her podcast, Savannah opened up about the difficulties she has faced since being thrust into the parent role.
Savannah said that father Todd was forced to give up on hair dye behind bars – his new look is a distinct departure from his usual shock of blond hair
Earlier this month, she admitted that she was struggling to step in and take care of her younger siblings – brother, Grayson, 16, and adopted sister, Chloe, 10 – resulting in her having a ‘full-on breakdown.’
‘I’m not their mom. I’m not their dad. I’m their sister,’ she told guest Toni Collier, an author and founder of an international women’s ministry called Broken Crayons Still Color.
‘I want to stay in that role as sister, but it’s hard when you’re in the role of parent and discipline.
‘The other night, I had a full-on breakdown. I was trying to find Chloe proper clothes to go and visit my parents and find her hair stuff. I just sat down on the floor and started crying.’
The former Chrisley Knows Best star added that she feels like she is not ‘worthy or capable’ of filling her mother’s shoes.
‘I am not my mother,’ she added. ‘How am I going to do this? I don’t feel that I am worthy or capable enough of doing the job she’s done for all her life.’
Savannah (pictured with her adopted sister Chloe, left, and with her mother, right) previously admitted that she is struggling to step in and take care of her younger siblings
The former Chrisley Knows Best star added that she feels like she is not ‘worthy or capable’ of filling her mother’s shoes
Savannah recalled a conversation she had with her father before he left, in which he warned her that it would be the ‘hardest’ but ‘most rewarding thing’ she has ever had to do.
Despite the ‘breakdown,’ Savannah said she is ‘starting’ to understand her father’s advice, and that while she had been very ‘mad’ about what happened, she is now at ‘peace’ with it.
Todd (seen on January 12) was sentenced to 12 years behind bars
Todd has three other grown-up children, Lindsie, 33, Kyle, 31, Chase, 26.
The family has been raising Chloe since she was an infant due to Kyle’s substance abuse issues, and they legally adopted her in 2016.
Savannah stated on the podcast that she’s now focused on ‘figuring out a healthier way to cope and deal with things’ regarding her siblings.
‘Looking at them, I’m like, ‘You know what, I know how I feel going through this trauma.
‘I cannot imagine how two kids feel going through it,” she said.
‘It’s like, you know what, there’s something bigger than me here – there’s a 10-year-old, there’s a 16-year-old and we gotta get through this in a healthy manner.’
She also said she wants to start planning ahead in an attempt to get more organized.
‘Even if it’s just little things, I’m trying to implement [them],’ she dished. ‘From here on out, every Sunday, we’re going to plan our meals for the week.
‘[I’ll say]: ‘You guys tell me what you want for dinner, and we’ll get the groceries for the week, and you’ll know every night what you’re going to eat.”
Savannah spoke out about the difficulties she has faced while looking after her younger brother, Grayson (pictured) and adopted sister Chloe
The former Chrisley Knows Best star (pictured with Chloe) said she had a ‘full-on breakdown’ after being thrust into the parenting role
She concluded by encouraging her listeners to use her story as inspiration.
‘It’s been a rough few days, but I’m showing up,’ she said. ‘Just because hard stuff happens, you don’t give up.’
Todd and Julie are serving out their time at two separate facilities, Todd’s is in Pensacola, Florida, and Julie’s is in Lexington, Kentucky.
The stars rose to fame thanks to their USA reality show Chrisley Knows Best, which premiered in 2014 and documented their day-to-day lives alongside their children.
It went on for nine seasons before it was canceled amid the scandal.
In the series, Todd and Julie worked hard to portray the image of devoted parents and devout Christians.
The family has been raising Chloe since she was an infant due to Kyle’s substance abuse issues, and they legally adopted her in 2016
But their picture-perfect on-screen images were ripped apart when it was brought to light that they had scammed the bank by submitting fake documents when applying for loans.
In addition, Todd’s former business partner Mark Braddock shocked the world when he claimed that he had a gay love affair with the father-of-five during the trial – further shattering the reality star’s long-cultivated reputation.
While on the stand, Mark, 57, told the court that he and Todd engaged in a brief romance in the early 2000s, while speaking in detail about Todd’s crimes.
In a previous episode of her podcast, Savannah reiterated her struggles to take care of her siblings, stating, ‘I don’t feel adequate enough for this job.
‘My mother is the kindest, most loving, most amazing human being I’ve ever met. I always said if I could be half of her, I would be OK.
‘I guess in moments like these, I realize I’m more like my mom than I realize because I’m getting through it.
In a previous episode of her podcast, Savannah reiterated her struggles to take care of her siblings (Chloe and Grayson pictured), stating: ‘I don’t feel adequate enough for this job’
‘It’s been hard – it’s been hard to understand, to process and also help two kids process what’s been going on in our life,’ Savannah (pictured with Grayson) added
‘It’s been hard – it’s been hard to understand, to process and also help two kids process what’s been going on in our life.’
She also shared a letter her father sent her from jail, which read: ‘I want you to give yourself some grace.
‘Fall in love with the real Savannah, the one that I raised that radiates a room with her kindness and compassion. Not the one the world wants to see.
‘Remember, to gain the world and lose your soul, then what do you have? I’ve never been more proud of you and the woman you’re becoming.
‘You’ve been cast in the fire and what God burns off will allow you to shine brighter than gold.’
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