DeeAnn Lawrence, Northampton County's new Corrections Director, described what's happening at the jail during a very informative Courts and Corrections Committee hearing last week. Unfortunately, the meeting was coming to a close at the time of her remarks, so it was an abbreviated report. In a nutshell, her job is to provide a safe and secure environment for the inmates, corrections officers and the general public.
Larence told County Council that, in recent weeks, she sat down with staff from each of three shifts covering the jail's 24/7 operation, to identify the "concerns, the needs and wants of the facility." She claims these sitdowns led to " immediate resolution of standing staff grievances, grievances, better communication, and an uplifted morale. This approach will continue to increase the relationship between staff and supervisors, ensuring that staff are not merely workers, but human beings.
Unfortunately, these human beings are often mandated to work 16-hour shifts, which does nothing to make the facility more secure or safe. This is primarily due to a staffing shortage.
Lawrence claimed there are currently just 161 corrections officers (COs) in a jail with a census of 480, and this includes 4 who are in the training pipeline. The jail is budgeted for 180 COs and, according to Lawrence, should have 212.
They still have off every other Saturday, but with mandates, it can be grueling
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