1. Jail operations final reprt - Laserfiche WebLink

The following are recommendations to assist Cass County officials in resolving the vandalism that occurred and the inconsistencies that can cause problems with inmate behavior and inmate staff relations. Secondly, the recommendations are offered as a means of beginning the fine-tuning of the new jail operations. It is essential to long-term efficiency and effectiveness, These recommendations are a consensus of both consultants and are strongly recommended. 1. Quickly act to place someone in an administrative position to address the problems in day-to-day operatlons of the jail. Due to the illness of the Assistant Jail Administrator, there is no one specifically charged with Identifying and addressing the problems. Instead, the jail shift supervisors meet as often as possible to work out the problems, However, this ad hoc has been only moderately successful. According to the supervisors and staff that were interviewed, things are getting better but very slowly. There is a critical need to maintain "management control" of this situation thus there must be a "jail administrator" in place at this critical point of opening the new jail. It is noted in the principles of direct supervision that effective leadership by management is required. "Even trained staff can only function as effectively as their leaders.... Management must assume the responsibility for making staff effective. They must develop their staff through constructive supervision and leadership, ensure that they receive proper training, and maintain high recruitment standards." It is also noted [n the principles of direct supervision that staff require frequent supervision by management. "Management m~st actively assume the responsibility for assuring that staff I$ ~ucce$$ful in fulfilling their inmate supervisory responsibilities.' 'This I$ achieved principally through the high visibility of manaBers in the housing units.' 'The manager must ensure that the officer is performing his duties correctly, is achieving the desire results, and can be fufly supported by management." Of course the method of filling the immediate leadership void is strictly at the discretion of the Sheriff. Statutorily he is the operator of the facility and can use the resources provided by the County Board as he deems most appropriate. Options might include temporarily contracting with someone from the outside who has extensive jail administration experience or movin§ someone from within the Sheriffs Office organization to the jail. The important thing to remember is that it will be an intense full time job -- not something that can be part time. It is the consultant's opinion that this must be done immediately to begin addressing the problem of inconsistency between shifts and between staff. This person n~ust iron out staff differences in inmate Cass County Jail Project 8