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"Jails As A Part of Small County Government" Seminar A Success
"Jails as a part of Small County Government" Seminar was hosted by the Florida Sheriff's Association, the National Institute of Corrections, and the FAC last Monday through Wednesday in Madison County. Thank you for all counties that participated. As part of the seminar participants broke out into groups and discussed building effective relationships around jail issues. Below are the conclusions the different groups determined. Participants divided into three groups: County Commissioners, Sheriffs, and Jail Administrators.
Each group responded to the following questions:
- What are my needs, interests, and concerns regarding operation of the jail?
- What do I need from my other two team members that will help me fulfill my role concerning the jail?
- What can I do to help my other team members fulfill their respective roles concerning the jail?
Responses from County Commissioners:
- Justifiable funding requests, operations meeting state and federal guidelines, maintaining the facilities, liability exposure, vision/capacity/plan for needs, staffing comparative analysis, mitigation or medical costs, court rulings, use of inmate labor.
- Inmate labor, better communication/collaboration, detailed comparative analysis for budget request, public support by Sheriff, buy into the team concept, risk analysis, and stats on inmate class/arrests.
- Provide appropriate funding of OPS, demonstrate our understanding of Jail OPS, public education, support Capital Planning to mitigate capacity Issues, BOCC education, solutions of Stats class/arrests.
Responses from Sheriffs:
- Adequate staff, adequate security, adequate funding, maintenance/facility, programs inmates, community capacity, educate community on impact of jail on community.
- Commissioner: funding, understanding, interest, support/ know role, visit facility (through the front door). Jail Administrator: follow orders, communicate issues and offer solutions, handle issues, serve as a role model and policy changes.
- Keep communicating, get involved, attend NIC training, stay on course, be a leader/role model, listen, respect their positions, make sure they know Questions 1 & 2.
Responses from Jail Administrators:
- Financial Support, Staffing, Maintenance, Training, Improved Benefits (raises, retirement, and medical after retirement).
- Cooperation, Funding, Understanding jail complexities, interaction with our communities.
- Involvement, Awareness, Providing Information (Good news or bad news)
- Funding Opportunities (grant revenues).