County Jail Deputy’S Job Repetitious, Never Routine There’S Always Something That Needs To Be Done, And Done Again

DAY IN THE LIFE

This is the story of a typical day for a Kootenai County Jail deputy. There currently are 26 certified deputies and four trainees. Six adeputies are assigned to full-time duties that remove them from the daily routine. One deputy was injured during an attempted escape and remains on administrative leave. That leaves 19 deputies and four trainees for daily operation of the jail. These deputies are divided into three separate shifts, which provide around-the-clock coverage.

My day at the Kootenai County Jail begins at 7 a.m. with a shift briefing provided by the watch commander.

The briefing covers recent arrests, shift shortages due to personnel calling in sick or being assigned to guard duty, known disciplinary problems of inmates, scheduled transports and deputy’s assignments.

There are two primary positions for a detention deputy: booking and rover. Booking deputies process in all newly arrested personnel, update inmate records, release time-served inmates and those who have posted bonds as well as answer a huge number of telephone calls.

Rovers meet the inmates’ daily needs, moving them throughout the facility, dressing in and out work-release inmates and any other unexpected events. Our days are repetitious but never routine.

Today I have a trainee who is in his third week of a nine-week in-house training program. The trainee also will be sent to Meridian for four more weeks of training.

We are to serve breakfast to the North Housing Unit, which consists of five pods and three single-occupant cells. Today the Public Safety Building is housing 157 inmates - 77 are in the North Housing Units.

The facility is approved to house only 127 inmates.

The county is housing 31 additional inmates in out-of-county facilities.

My trainee and two inmate workers serve breakfast, which consists of oatmeal, toast, margarine, a piece of fruit and milk or juice. Each tray and eating utensil placed into a pod is accounted for and must be returned upon completion of the meal due to safety considerations. The other rover deputy is serving South and West Housing.

Although we are only the servers of this breakfast, we must shoulder numerous complaints, many of which are derogatory and sometimes hostile. Complaints are that it is the same old food, is of poor quality or is made in insufficient quantities. The meals are prepared by a civilian cooking staff of five and inmate workers. All of the meals are pre-approved and meet nutritional requirements.

After breakfast, we discover a spoon is missing in E-pod. We cannot leave the pod until the spoon is found. A search of the 10 cells does not turn up the missing spoon. An inventory of the trash bag reveals that an inmate has thrown away his spoon. My trainee advises the inmates that they must hand in their spoons one by one at the end of the next meal.

Now it’s time for distribution of daily commodities, such as toiletries. The most difficult and time-consuming task is razor distribution, which occurs twice a week. Because we are in a secured facility, we have to monitor the number of razors distributed and log each inmate’s name who receives one. Within two hours, the razors must be returned and inspected.

Meanwhile, the other rover is escorting the facility nurse with the medication distribution to inmates. This occurs four times a day.

Next, we conduct cell cleanliness and contraband inspections. Cells are to be cleaned daily by the inmates. Once the cells meet requirements, television will be authorized.

With the morning well under way, it’s time to begin the linen and uniform exchange. This usually is accomplished for two pods a day. Inmates are required to change their linen and clothing once a week.

During these daily tasks, the rovers must remain flexible to assist in moving inmates throughout the facility. Inmates require a deputy to escort them through the main corridor of the facility when going to and from inmate visits, recreational yard, Bible study, interviews, attorney visits and court.

Lunch begins about noon. Today’s lunch consists of egg-salad sandwiches and juice. My trainee and two inmate workers again serve the meal, this time to the South units, which have the remaining 80 inmates. Of these 80 inmates, about 30 are out on work release.

Complaints about the meal continue as usual. After the meal is served and trays are picked up, it’s time to assist the facility nurse with the 1 p.m. Med Cart.

Inmates are called down to video court first appearances about 1:30 p.m. This is done under the supervision of transport deputies. If there is only one of these deputies available, one of the rovers will have to assist in the moving and monitoring of these inmates.

Monday we had 22 inmates appear before the presiding judge. This required overtime for two deputies because of a shortage of personnel on the oncoming shift.

This was a routine day. There are many days that are not routine, such as state transport day, doctor visit day, and days in which there are inmate disciplinary problems.

My belief is the best way to handle the stress is to take one day at a time and expect the unexpected to happen. Proper training and teamwork is essential, but above all else, I feel that it is important to treat everyone the way you would want to be treated.

Detention deputy Robert Forsyth is a two-year veteran of the Kootenai County Public Safety Building.

1. Paying for punishment 2. Jail fees 3. 24 hours of bookings at Kootenai County Jail