Jail and Corrections

• Visiting Information
• Inmate Information
• Inmate Mail
• Bonding Information
• Jail Operations
• Core Values
• Primary Strategic Paths and Outcomes
• Community Work Program
• Community Corrections 
• Correctional Services
• Court Security Services

Jail Operations

Correctional Services - Correctional Services is staffed by civilian employees and supported by a number of volunteers. Together they offer programming aimed at reducing recidivism by providing educational classes designed to assist inmates in achieving their GED, overcoming substance abuse, controlling their anger, reviewing the past decisions they have made and attempting to assist them in making moral and just decisions in the future, providing necessary life skills, and developing plans to return to their family and community better prepared to make the necessary life changes. In addition, staff is also responsible for identifying appropriate funding sources for the placement of court ordered inmates into substance abuse treatment programs.

Correctional Services works very closely with the religious leaders of the community. Many local churches provide religious volunteers who volunteer each week to meet the spiritual needs of the inmate population.

Correctional Services also works closely with the County's mental health team, Community Support & Treatment Services formally known as CMH. Together they identify inmates with mental health issues and provide treatment, counseling and when appropriate discharge planning for continued care in the community.

Food Services - The management of Food Services is by contract with Aramark Food Corporation.  Aramark provides three cooks who are responsible for the preparation of meals.  Inmate trustees are assigned to assist in meal preparation, service and clean up.

Medical Services - Provided under contract with a private contractor, they provide a registered or licensed nurse 24 hours per day.  They are responsible for the health of the inmate population, rendering emergency first aid, providing follow-up care for sick and injured inmates, administering prescribed medication and assisting contracted physicians, dentists and radiologists.

Transport Section - Deputies assigned to the Transport Section are responsible for the safe and orderly transportation of inmates between the Washtenaw County Jail and the court systems, prisons, hospitals and other county jails.

Core Values

Security ~ is one of our most important core values.  Utilizing the least restrictive means necessary, the Washtenaw County Jail will maintain effective security and control of the inmates and the institution providing the essential foundation for efficient and effective, quality based work performance.

Safety ~ includes the safety of our community, staff, inmates and all visitors to the Jail.  All Corrections Division staff members share the mutual responsibility and common role of maintaining a safe and secure Jail.

Service ~ The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office exists as a public service organization.  The array of services the Sheriff's Office provides are broad.  Our clients include, but are not limited to: citizens who require our services, inmates, local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies, various human service agencies, Courts, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, families of inmates, families of victims, etc. Our efforts are always focused on providing the finest quality help and assistance to our clients within our ability and resources.

Working Together ~ No one person is usually capable of, nor should be asked to shoulder the complete responsibility of operating the Jail and its various associated services.  To be successful as individuals, we must see ourselves as team members and team builders.  It is only through working together, that we will be able to achieve the strategic outcomes we have outlined within this document.

Professionalism ~ We are professionals.  We are required to be alert at every moment, as we secure and care for inmates either accused or found guilty of the most serious of crimes.  We strive to maintain high standards of conduct, service delivery and professional development.  We aim to adhere, at all times, to the mission, values and principles of operation of the Sheriff's Office and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.  We understand that our first duty is to the community and we recognize the important and integral role of the community in fulfilling the mission of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and the purposes of the Jail.

Innovation ~ Innovation means taking what we have and adding to it, or using it in ways that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our work.  This may mean the creation or enhancements of various systems in the Jail or the addition of technology, or the development of a better way to do something we are currently doing.  This may mean becoming more efficient or effective or finding ways to enhance other core values, such as: safety, security and service.

Primary Strategic Paths and Outcomes

• Professionalism ~ Redefining the nature, dignity and importance of our work.
• Focus ~ Clear and well-defined division outcomes.
• Structure and Teamwork ~ Re-engineering the classical hierarchical authority structure in the Jail to a value driven, teamwork based model.
• Policy Development Process ~ Revising institutional rules and regulations for the control of staff and inmate behavior into a value driven approach.

Community Work Program

The Washtenaw County Sheriff Community Work Program  is an alternative to incarceration program that substitutes community labor, rather than incarceration, for carefully selected offenders.  The Work Program provides service to local municipalities and other non-profit organizations throughout Washtenaw County.

It is the intent of the Work Program to maintain the highest standards of public confidence, credibility and public safety when implementing alternatives to confinement programs. Participation in the programs shall occur only when the sentencing Court concludes that a person meets the specified criteria.

The Work Program offers many benefits to Washtenaw County taxpayers, community agencies and the criminal justice system and offenders:

• Provides judges alternative sentencing.
• Provides community service labor to build,repair and improve community and county properties.
• Reduces jail overcrowding and improves jail utilization for more serious offenders.
• Allows offenders the opportunity to maintain existing employment, education and family ties.

To date in 2009, the Sheriff’s Community Work Program has picked up nearly 4800 bags of trash plus 351 large items from Washtenaw County road ways such as tires and furniture.  They have performed 19,275 hours of community service at various non-profit organizations. The Work Program has saved the Sheriff a total of 3932 bed spaces and nearly $236,000.00 in incarceration costs.

The Sheriff Community Work Program also participates in Bill's Big Dig, a program that offers snow removal for seniors.  Every year the Work Program assists in clearing snow for approximately 150 households throughout the county.  If you are interested in recieving assistance with snow removal from the Community Work Program please call 734-971-8400 and enter 'storm' (78676) and leave a detailed message.

If you have suggestions for the Sheriff Community Work Program, please contact Sgt. Kurt Schiappacasse.  Please understand that due to the volume of requests there may be a waiting list.

Hours of operation for the Work Program are  8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Seven days a week.  For more information, please call 734-973-4867.

Court Security Services

The Court Security Division is comprised of approximately forty officers and bailiffs charged with providing security for seven Court facilities and nearly twenty Judges and Magistrates.  Further, Washtenaw County Sheriff Court Security Officers maintain the integrity of the judicial process by ensuring a safe and secure environment in and around the court complex.

To facilitate this first line of defense, Court Security Officers utilize sophisticated X-ray devices and the latest high-technology magnetometers, similar to those used at airports.  Not surprisingly, our officers detect weapons and items that could be used as weapons each day.  Most of these weapons are knives, but occasionally we discover other contraband such as swords hidden in canes, machetes strapped to legs, and handguns.  Sheriff’s officers also regularly detect and seize illegal narcotics from people as they attempt to enter court facilities.

Perimeter patrol of the facility is another important function of our Courts Security Division.  Court Security Officers are linked by radio to the Sheriff’s Central Dispatch Center.  Each Court Security Office has video surveillance cameras, which surround the facilities and monitor all perimeter activity. Officers monitoring surveillance cameras can direct officers to any problems or signs of trouble.

When visiting the Courts it is important to remember that for your safety and to respect the rights of others, several items are banned from entering into any Court Facility in Washtenaw County.  Some of these items include:

• camera cell phones
• weapons of any kind
• most electronic equipment (i.e., recording devices) 

It is suggested that these items are left in your vehicle while you visit our Courts.

For information about Washtenaw County Circuit Court, including contact information, click here:

Washtenaw County Trial Court

For information about Washtenaw County District Courts, including contact information, click here:

14A District Court

Should you have a question for the Washtenaw County Sheriff Court Security Division, please contact us 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday at 734-222-3055 or email Sgt. Kurt Schiappacasse.

Contact Information