>> A Look Inside the Jefferson County Jail (01/2006)
Behind the Badge: A Message from Sheriff Ted Mink
Most of the "Message From the Sheriff" columns over the years have focused on patrol functions and crime prevention. They are the top-of-mind, day-to-day concerns of citizens throughout the county. This month, however, I'd like to turn your attention to the Jefferson County Jail and our detention operations here at the Sheriff's Office. The jail has an even larger budget and workforce than the Patrol Division, and from a taxpaying citizen's perspective its operations are as important as any other.
The Jail
The detention facility in Golden represents about 40% of the overall Sheriff's Office budget. A staff of 346 keeps security tight and operations running smoothly every day of the year. The jail held an average of 1,350 inmates per day in 2005. A small group of U.S. Marshal's inmates were also detained there in 2005, an arrangement that actually produced $2.5 million in revenue for the Jefferson County government general fund, benefiting all county services.
Accreditation
In September, the Jefferson County Jail was audited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). Three representatives from this independent organization inspected the building and reviewed jail policies and procedures. They inspected functions including building security, medical care, fire safety, environmental conditions, tool control, inventories, sanitation, food service and others. During their three-day audit, the visiting officials interviewed 60 inmates, in addition to Sheriff's Office staff. These interviews informed their overall review of the facility.
"Security is secure"
The accreditation team reported that "The security is secure and well managed by knowledgeable staff. Security throughout the facility was at a high standard." They also took note of the building's advanced technology: "The staff are provided with an abundance of state of the art equipment."
Inmate input
Inmate input was integral to the team's findings. After interviewing dozens of inmates, the team reported, "The overall morale of the inmate population was very good. There were no prior requests to meet with the team so the inmates were interviewed at random. They were very open about their treatment and stated that most staff treat them in a professional manner."
Areas for improvement
The accreditation team identified an area for improvement that our office had also identified: The work-release program that allows certain inmates to temporary leave the jail to work or attend school has experienced a walk-away rate of about 9 percent. "The facility needs to look at the screening process for this program," auditors wrote. We will be seeking new ways of monitoring those who are permitted to participate in work-release. Also, we will be working with the judges who deliver work-release sentences to try to identify more appropriate candidates for this program.
Accreditors' conclusion
The Jefferson County Detention Facility passed its inspection with 97 percent compliance. According to the team's findings, "The team felt the sanitation, organization, and the entire facility both inside and outside to not only be outstanding, but a true standard setter throughout the country."
Work yet to be done
Despite these positive findings, we believe there are more areas for improvement as we move forward. For example, in 2006 we hope to apply the same problem solving methods used in Patrol to detentions operations. Through this process, we can research the causes of recurring issues to find new ways to prevent them, rather than reacting to problems when they occur. We also plan to continue our efforts to find solutions to an ever-growing inmate population, expected to outgrow the current facility soon. For more information on the jail or accreditation, please visit www.jeffcosheriff.com.
Behind the Badge Archive
Last Modified:
May 20, 2009 04:14 PM
