1. Jail operations final reprt - Laserfiche WebLink

appeared quiet and orderly and the officers appeared completely in control. Interviews with numerous inmates did not provide and indication of major inmate unrest. All County officials, jail supervisors, jail staff, inmates and others were very cooperative and foKchcoming with information with the consultants. The consultants met with two County Board members, the Sheriff, two of the jail supervisors, the jail training officer, the classification officer. The consultants also spoke with several jail staff while they were working on post. All of the persons were very candid about how well the jail was working and the problems that exists. All available documentation of events and operations was provided without hesitation. The consultants were provided with an estimated 2000-pages of documentation, Copies of additional documentation was provided when requested during the post occupancy monitoring visit. During the tour of the facility, the consultants observed housing areas that were quiet, orderly, and reasonably clean. ]t also appeared that the officers were "in-charge" of the housing unit, that is, the inmates exhibited compliant behavior and followed officer instructions without hesitation. Communication between the officers and inmates appeared to be comfortable, polite and respectful which would indicated a good professional working relationship,~ The consultants were informed of a few incidents of misbehavior such as plugging toBets, plugging showers, and possession of nuisance contraband. The officers explained that some inmates tried to "con" the officers into extra items or privileges. Some play little games to test the officer (i.e., stepping out of their cell without their shirt on to see if the officer will enforce the rule of having to have to wear a shirt when not in their cells). The consultants observed appropriate disciplinary actions were taken ranging from verbal warnings to disciplinary detention and suspension of privileges. The appropriate and consistent application of discipline will minimize Inmate misbehavior in both the frequency of events and seriousness. i It is noted in the principles of direct supervision that the officer must maintain a leadership role in the inmate housing areas. "One of the major sources of inmate violence is the struggle to assert leadership when a leadership void exists.' This is a natural group response to such a situation in any segment of society (even in the Cass county jail staff).' 'However, the struggle for leadership or the dominant role in an inmate group is usually violent and brutal.' 'Inmate rapes, for example, are often tactics employed by inmates to exert their dominance over others.' 'In order to avoid this situation, the [housing] officer must fill the leadership void and protect his or her role jealously.' '... Managemen'c's responsibility is to structure the unit environment to ensure that the officer remains the undisputed leader.' 'Any inmate who vies for the leadership role has to be dealt with effectively, even if the Involves removal [of the inmate] from the group [or even the facility]." Cass County Jail project 4