1. How much time do you plan to spend on the jail administration compared to the administration of the sheriff's office?

Danny Boyd

As sheriff, I am responsible for both administrations. There's really no way to set a certain amount of time for everyone. I have a jail administrator and an office administrator who keep me informed daily (24/7) of any situation that requires my attention. There is no middle ground, you have to solve problems and manage situations as they arise in both administrations. If you ask any sheriff in Missouri, they will all tell you that the jail is their biggest liability and requires more oversight of the day-to-day operations than the administrative side.

2. What opportunities do you see with the new jail to improve county operations?

The new prison will be a state-of-the-art 120-bed facility, providing maximum security for inmates, prison staff and the community. Jail operations will be more cost effective with updated equipment and daily maintenance of the facility to ensure the facility remains well maintained. Better video communications with the court will reduce the transportation of inmates out of the facility. The new, larger jail will allow us to house inmates for other agencies, if necessary.

3. How will you set and evaluate compensation for correctional officers?

As of January 2021, the starting salary for a correctional officer was $26,000.00.

As of January 2024, the starting salary for a Correctional Officer III is $36,000.00. As of 2023, correctional staff have been classified as Jail Administrators and Correctional Officers I, II, or III, based on their experience and years of employment with the county. Correctional Officers III are the newest employees with a starting salary of $36,000.00. Correctional Officers II are Shift Supervisors with a starting salary of $38,000.00.

Correctional Officer I is the Assistant Jail Administrator with a starting salary of $40,000.00. The Prison Administrator is the highest paid with a starting salary of $43,000.00. I have successfully increased corrections officer salaries by $10,000.00 since I have been sheriff.

Corrections officer salaries are reviewed annually by consulting surrounding counties for comparable salaries. My goal is to pay a competitive salary in order to retain and hire experienced and qualified prison staff.

4. In your opinion, what are the most important keys to ensuring the health and safety of prisoners?

The County hires a doctor. Starting in February 2022, the county hired a full-time on-site nurse to monitor inmates' medical issues. The nurse reports problems to the doctor daily, dispenses medications as prescribed, and schedules medical appointments. for inmates who need medical attention and follow-up care. I also require my prison staff to complete 14 hours of continuing education, which includes online training, Taser training, hand-to-hand combat training, use of force training, and CPR training. The new facility will have an AED available on site. The establishment has padded rooms which will be made available to prisoners suffering from mental health problems. I believe all of the above are key factors in ensuring the health and safety of inmates.

5. Do you plan to implement or continue inmate enrichment programs?

The new jail facility will offer GED classes to inmates in partnership with the Open Minds Initiative, affiliated with the Barry/Lawrence County Library. Inmates will be supervised by volunteers and will be able to take their tests online in the establishment. If inmates are no longer incarcerated, they will still have the opportunity to continue their studies.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or mentor inmates will need to apply to my office and be approved. Prison ministry will resume when the new facility opens. Anyone wishing to be part of the prison ministry will need to apply to my office and be approved.

Family and/or friends are encouraged to visit inmates regularly.