Joshua Morrison/Mount Vernon News
Friends and family members can visit inmates at the Knox County Jail via this video visitation terminal in the lobby. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office unveiled this new visitation system today.
MOUNT VERNON — Hands-on high technology benefiting the Knox County Jail and Knox County Sheriff’s Office served as the theme of Sheriff David Shaffer’s department updates Tuesday for county commissioners.
A new video visitation system at Knox County Jail set to start today — and a new wristband system for Knox County Jail inmates to be unveiled in April — were two of the highlights. Shaffer said the video visitation system includes two kiosks that will be stationed in the jail lobby, and another two in the dormitory area. The new system will allow inmates to communicate with family members from their homes as they sign up for online video access.
Shaffer also provided an update on the Guardian ID system, from which jail inmates will be tracked any time they move from one location to another as a bracelet they wear is scanned, and their from-and-to locations are logged. This new system will save jail employees from having to enter that data manually.
Shaffer said he will invite Commissioners Teresa Bemiller, Thom Collier and Bill Pursel to the jail in April to see the Guardian wristband tracking system in action. It expands on wristbands currently in use for the tracking of dispensed medications and other medical purposes. Bemiller and Collier asked Shaffer if inmates could attempt to damage their wristbands. He said that would disrupt their access to medication and added, “Eventually, it will just become the way of things for them.” The wristband tracking system is about accountability — improving accountability for both the inmates and the jailors responsible for their whereabouts, Shaffer offered.
In other sheriff’s updates, Shaffer said training has been ongoing the past few weeks for newly issued tasers. In addition, a captain on the force has led body-camera training. The Sheriff’s Office is also benefiting from the use of three new Ford Explorers that arrived this week, which means that all of the office’s “mainline” cruisers used by sheriff’s officers in field duty are now Explorers. The department is in the process of buying six new cruisers, all Ford Explorer 2019 models. Some police cars — two Chevrolet Impalas — remain for SRO (School Resource Officer) use.
Shaffer said the Sheriff’s Office is also considering an opportunity to measure the health and wellness of its officers through the Robinson Research Institute, based in Michigan. The institute works with Robertson Wellness, an applied behavioral medicine company. Findings through studies indicate that law enforcement officers, due to the stress of making split-second decisions each day, are susceptible to a disproportionate risk of heart disease compared to the community at large. Shaffer said opportunity for his officers through collaboration with the institute could involve counseling services and participation in research.
