One of the GSA’s missions is to augment professionalism in the management and operations of Georgia’s jails. The mission will be accomplished by enhancing GSA’s jail technical services, provide specialized educational opportunities, and increase communication among sheriffs and jail officers throughout the state. There are three major functions of the Jail Management Division.
Jail Training Reimbursement
Effective September 2019, Jail Training Reimbursement funds are no longer available.
Jail Management and Operations: Safe, Efficient Solutions for Jails
There are 143 jails that house over 42,000 inmates throughout the state. Operational responsibility for county jails is the sole responsibility of the sheriff. In addition to protecting the public and jail staff from dangerous criminals, federal and state laws require that sheriffs must provide for the safety, health, and welfare of inmates housed in county jails.
In 1997, the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association launched its Jail Services Program for two key reasons:
- To ensure that sheriffs and jail officers can maintain the safest, most efficient work environment possible; and,
- To ensure that constitutional mandates for the design and operation of county jails are met.
Today, the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association continues to provide services to augment jail management, operations and standards within the sheriff’s office.
To achieve these goals, the GSA Training Division offers:
- Planning
- Staffing Analysis
- Jail Transition and Logistics Planning
- Model Jail Policy and Procedure Manual
- Standards for the Design, Operation and Administration of Georgia’s Jails
Jail Management Advisory Committee
The Jail Management Advisory Committee is comprised of a jail officer from each of GSA’s ten geographic regions, two sheriffs, and members of GSA’s Training Division. The committee functions include:
- Serve as a point of contact for jail management, operations and training questions or concerns within their respective regions. The committee members will rely on the GSA’s Training Division’s expertise in responding appropriately to these inquiries;
- Identifying problems or issues within the state, involving the operations and management of the jail for training purposes; and
- Disseminating information via email from the GSA Jail Management Division to members of the organization in their respective regions.
Click here to contact a member of the Jail Management Advisory Committee.
Georgia Sheriffs’ Association 2020 Jail Management Advisory Committee
| Region One | Captain Keith Thomas 770-572-0254 | Paulding County |
| Region Two | Major Deeann Cash 470-201-8449 | Forsyth County |
| Region Three | Capt. Danny Woods 706-865-6370 (office); 706-362-3991 (cell) | White County |
| Region Four | Maj. Christie Webb (Jail Administrator) 706-628-4211; 706-457-2085 (cell) | Harris County |
| Region Five | Capt. Tony Trice (Jail Administrator) 478-825-5144 x 33 (office); 478-256-2939 (cell) | Peach County |
| Region Six | Capt. Corey King 478-552-4795 (office); 478-357-5156 (cell) | Washington County |
| Region Seven | Col. John Ostrander 229-430-6508 (office); 229-449-1200 (cell) | Dougherty County |
| Region Eight | Ralph Pittman 912-287-4325 (office); 912-592-7097 (cell) | Ware County |
| Region Nine | Sascha Krumnow (Jail Administrator) 912-977-7977 | Liberty County |
| Region Ten | Donella Peacock (Jail Administrator) 478-697-8620 (cell) | Laurens County |
| Sheriffs | Sheriff Terry Deese 478-825-2507 (office); 478-256-7409 (cell) | Peach County |
| GSA | Brent Loeffler, Training Director 770-914-1076; 229-254-0560 (cell) |
Staff Development Training
Operational effectiveness is dependent on well-trained jail staff. GSA continues to offer the Basic Jail Officer Training courses.
Basic Jail Officer Course (80 hours): Prepares jail officers to perform required responsibilities in a professional manner and meets requirements for the state-mandated POST Jail Officer Certification.
Basic Jail Officer Course for Certified Deputies (45 Hours): A streamlined version of the 80-hour course for certified deputies only. Meets training requirements for certified peace officers to obtain the state mandated POST Jail Officer Certification.
Basic Jail Officer Course for Certified Correctional Officers (24 Hours): Certified correctional officers can meet training requirements for the state-mandated POST Jail Officer Certification in this course.
Click here for the dates and locations of upcoming Basic Jail Officer Courses.
We have expanded our educational opportunities to include:
- Jail Management Conference
Leadership, management, and operational strategies are vital to ensuring the safety, security and good order of the jail. This annual conference provides insight to sheriffs, jail administrators, and jail supervisory personnel on these important issues. This annual seminar will provide jail staff with management techniques which will improve the operational effectiveness of the jail. - Jail Training and Evaluation Program (JTEP) and the Jail Training Officer (JTO)
The Jail Training and Evaluation Program marks a significant “raising of the bar” in the area of jail training and overall jail operations in Georgia. This program is designed to provide knowledge and skills to new employees which in turn will provide for a much more effective and efficient workplace. JTEP includes the model Jail Training Officer program for qualified jail officers who will deliver standardized training and evaluation of newly-hired jail officers. The objectives of this program are to produce a well trained, motivated and capable jail officer to excel and perhaps move up within the ranks and take on leadership positions and increase the officer’s operational readiness. Graduates of the Jail Training Officer (JTO) certification class earn Georgia POST certification as a JTO. - In-Service Training
In-service training lesson plans and Powerpoints are available to supplement the sheriffs’ offices’ in-service training offered to the jail staff.
For additional information, please contact Brent Loeffler, Training Director at 770-914-1076.
Please help the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association provide better jail services to more sheriffs across the state.