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Jail overtime and staffing pressures continue; commander warns of training and academy changes
Summary
Commander Steve Barker told commissioners the jail’s average daily population and overtime costs rose; the jail has vacancies, a high overtime month in January and concerns about academy closures that could affect training pipelines.
Commander Steve Barker reported the jail’s average daily population for the month had dropped slightly to 79 but reached a high of 94; population that morning was 81. He said overtime paid in the most recent month totaled $15,720.53 and extra‑labor payouts for control‑room duties ran $1,994.96. Those figures consume a significant portion of the jail’s overtime budget for the year, Barker said.
Barker said the jail is short multiple certified corrections officers and control‑room officers; staffing sits at roughly 21 of 22 funded corrections‑officer positions certified, but several control‑room positions remain open. He noted one officer is at the academy now and others are in various stages of certification; if regional academies close or move (Criminal Justice Training Commission regional academy changes were mentioned), training access will be harder and more expensive, he said. He also reported a recent back bill from CJTC for training costs for the county of roughly $10,000.
Barker discussed other operational matters: restoration bed holds for Eastern State Hospital (two people were in holding cells awaiting transfer or hearings), a scheduled unexpected fatality review (UFR) and pending installation of privacy/shower doors paid for with a $5,000 materials allotment and free installation from a state crew. He also noted progress on property‑room research and that payroll SOP drafting is underway.
Ending: Commissioners heard the corrections briefing and asked for follow up on academy access and overtime projections. Barker will continue work with HR and county leadership to fill vacancies and to manage training and overtime pressures.
