Update on the Adams County Jail

I want to address some ongoing inquiries and clarify the status of our jail facility, particularly regarding why it is not currently operational for housing inmates.

Firstly, significant progress has been made under the sheriff's purview. We have identified numerous internal deficiencies that require attention and have been actively collaborating with the commissioners to rectify these issues. Our goal is to implement necessary improvements and address required repairs promptly.

Since an incident a few years ago resulted in the departure of six-out-of-nine jailers, manpower has been our primary challenge. To address this, I have been working closely with the state corrections training academy to expedite the certification of new hires from smaller agencies, thereby accelerating the their training process. Since working with the state training academy, we have hired six new corrections employees, all of who completed their training as of last week. Unfortunately, we also lost one jailer to another agency last week.

With the current staffing levels, if one person leaves or is sick, we cannot fill a proper schedule safely. We continue to recruit for open positions in the facility and hope to see more applications. Hiring corrections takes a huge toll, for every 10 applicants, we may get one qualified and to complete the background process required by law. We keep trying.

Additionally, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Watkins as our new jail commander. Kelly has taken on a significant challenge and I am confident in his ability to lead our facility and team members forward in the right direction. Already, we are seeing progress under his leadership.

We are aware of concerns from various offices, including commissioners, judges and others within the community. We understand the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions within the justice system. Our goal is to work towards the best solutions for the county's justice system, always mindful of community needs.

However, I must emphasize that I will not compromise on the safety of our staff. This commitment is paramount as we navigate the challenges we face.

In February of this year, a study conducted by the National Institute of Corrections reaffirmed what we already knew - our facility is outdated and in need of modernization to ensure safe operation. While we continue to seek funding from the county commissioners for these upgrades, we, working together with the commissioners, have secured some resources and are hopeful for further progress soon. Funding is tight, so we continue to search for options together.

Furthermore, the study highlighted a critical issue: severe under-staffing at our facility. I have formally requested an increase of nine additional jailers - a doubling of our current staffing levels. This augmentation is essential not only to safely operate our facility around the clock, but also to accommodate necessary time off, sick leave and other personnel considerations.

It's crucial to understand that our operational decisions are driven by legal mandates and safety imperatives for both staff and inmates. The complexities involved cannot be overstated, and we are committed to ensuring the well-being and security of all individuals under our care.

At present, our facility is functioning primarily as a transport service for inmates to and from other facilities for court appearances - a temporary measure aimed at maintaining safety until we can fully address staffing and facility concerns.

I appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges. Rest assured, we are diligently working toward a solution that prioritizes safety and operational efficiency. I want to thank the current jail staff for their desire to serve, even in these difficult times.

I want to thank the Franklin County Sheriff and his staff, as well as Benton County, for their patience and assistance during our time of need. The training and support provided to my teem has been invaluable.

- Dale Wagner is the Adams County Sheriff. Email him at [email protected].