Jail Services Program


In Georgia and throughout the country, jails perform an important role in the criminal justice system.  Currently, functional jails exist in 148 of Georgia's 159 counties.  The costs related to the administration, maintenance and operation of these facilities are borne by county units of government, however, Georgia law mandates that the responsibility for all operational matters lies exclusively with the sheriff.

Whenever concerns are identified by Georgia sheriffs, it is the responsibility of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association to respond with a review of the origin and causes of the issues and to seek practical and economic solutions.  Beginning in 1995, the Georgia Sheriffs' Association began to receive requests for technical and operational assistance and advice regarding all aspects of jail design, maintenance, and operations.  During the same period, inmate lawsuits filed against sheriffs and county governing authorities reinforced the need for facility and staffing analysis assistance, policy development guidance and jail officer training.  As the professional organization of Georgia's 159 elected sheriffs, the Association represented the sheriffs' greatest hope at addressing these issues. As a result, in 1997 the Georgia Jail Services Program was initiated using funds provided by a federal grant.       

Immediate action was critical to enhance the safety of nearly 4000 jail officers, provide appropriate custodial care for offenders committed to jails and reduce litigation.  With these concerns in mind, Georgia sheriffs initiated the Jail Services Program to develop methods aimed at addressing these considerable administrative, security and staffing issues.

Currently, the Jail Services Program offers the following services to sheriffs throughout the state: 

  • Jail Planning
  • Jail Staffing Analysis
  • Jail Officer Training
  • Jail Transition and Logistics Planning
  • Georgia Jail Standards for Pre-Trial Detainees
  • Model Jail Policy and Procedure Manual

For additional information contact one of the following at 770-914-1076.

Bill Lemacks, Retired Sheriff, Jail Services Director

Tonia Welch, Training Director

Brent Loeffler, Program Coordinator

Training Offered:

Basic Jail Officer Course (BJOC) - 80 hours.  This entry level jail program will prepare the jail officers to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with legislative and case law decisions. Topics include emergency procedures, inmate rights, inmate discipline, medical activities such as first-aid, CPR, inmate medical, inmate/cell searches, fingerprinting, self defense, and inmate supervision. Portions of this course require physical activity and exercises in written communication. This course meets the training requirements for POST Jail Officer Certification.

Basic Jail Officer Course (BJOC) - 47 Hours: This course provides the certified deputy the opportunity to understand basic issues concerning jails, their operations, and specific jail skills as taught in the 80 hour course. (Classes offered in the 80-hour course but not offered in the 47-hour course were required classes during the basic law enforcement mandate course.)  A certified law enforcement officer may take this course and meet the training requirements for POST Jail Officer Certification.

Basic Jail Officer Course for Certified Correctional Officers - 24 Hours: This course provides the certified correctional officer the opportunity to understand basic issues concerning jails, their operations, and specific jail skills.  The differences in the types of inmates in jails vs. prisons dictates operations of each.  A certified correctional officer can take the 24 Hour BJOC course and meet the training requirements for POST Jail Officer Certification.