NCJ Number
137973
Journal
American Jails Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (May-June 1992) Pages: 53-57
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Arapahoe County (Colorado) Detention Facility has a staff of 245 employees; all of the 175 commissioned deputies will shortly be State-certified peace officers. State certification of all commissioned personnel has been a high priority of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department.
Abstract
In 1983, under new leadership, the department constructed the Justice Center Detention Facility (JCDF); the JCDF has one of the most secure and efficient physical plants in the country. This modern jail features a podular design, which offers maximum security and minimum inmate movement. Direct supervision has been implemented as a preventive, rather than a reactive, measure. Some of the programs offered at the JCDF that benefit inmates and staff include a computer literate agency where all records and information are stored, an association with a local school district to provide a GED program for eligible inmates, a coordinated program with a university extensive program for an agricultural project, a cooperative arrangement with a technical college to provide training for instructors, an internal Drug Use Forecasting program, a contract with the local library, and effective mental health and medical care services. Arapahoe County is progressive in career development, providing a tuition reimbursement plan for employees. Other facility activities include an alcohol and drug recovery program for inmates, a seven-person classification staff, a comprehensive Detention Training Officer and Booking Training Officer system, and an alternative sentencing program which includes a work release and home detention system.