National Correctional Officers Week highlights the individuals that look after and take care of inmates and convicts in the jail and prison system.

Greene County Chief Deputy and Jail Administrator Nathaniel Chapman says there are five full time jailers and they each have responsibilities when they work their 12-hour shift. Some of those responsibilities include serving inmates three meals per day, allowing the inmates to have a scheduled visitation two times per week, as well as looking after the inmates’ wellbeing. Chapman talks about an additional challenge with the current COVID-19 pandemic and what jailers do with inmates that first arrive at the jail.

“Right now we have them quarantined. So if it’s a new inmate, we shut them down to a single cell for seven days. We record their temperature and watch for any symptoms. Then after that period is finished then we allow them to go into the day room area, an open for like (where) they can communicate with other inmates when that period is over.”

Chapman says each new jailer is required to go through a 40 hour training class and then take a 20 hour class on an annual basis. Chapman notes another safety feature for the jail staff is the constant video monitoring system that both the jail staff as well as the dispatchers use. He points out that communication as a jailer is important because if there is an issue with an inmate, be it medical, physical or behavioral, it must be documented so the other jail staff know the situations that have to be handled. Chapman appreciates the jail staff and the jobs they do.