Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth and Undersheriff Andrew Bouck decided to lock themselves up in prison for two days, to learn more about how their county jail works. They are expected to be treated just like any other inmate.
The new Michigan sheriff said that this is a way to immerse himself alongside undersheriff Bouck in the system. They are planning to stay 40 hours in jail. They checked themselves into their own county jail at 5 p.m. Sunday, and they will be released on Tuesday morning
“I could study ICSO rules and regulations, the inmate handbook, and spend countless hours monitoring jail posts for the next couple months to learn our corrections operation and what is expected from a deputy each and every day,” the statement continues. “We have started doing these things already, but in the interim, I wanted to immerse myself and Undersheriff Bouck in the system. This will give us some great exposure into this side of our organization” he added
The officers will not enjoy privileges
Scott Wriggelsworth is the new sheriff of the Ingham County. He certainly arrives with peculiar innovations, especially regarding the jail system. He thought that to understand better the way the jail in his county works, he had to understand it from the inside. Therefore, he decided to put himself behind bars on Sunday. The Undersheriff Andrew Bouck joined Wriggelsworth during this experience. They believe it is the best way to know how they could improve the whole system.
They checked themselves into the Ingham County Jail in Mason at 5 p.m. on Sunday. They will be there until Tuesday, spending a total of 40 hours living as inmates.
Through a statement, the sheriff’s office said that both officers were booked into jail, given jumpsuits and they were eating the same food as other inmates. They will get out around 9 a.m. Tuesday. The office also said that they will be treated as other prisoners with no special benefits or privileges. The two highest-ranking officials of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office said, before entering to jail, that they expected to know how the operations of the prison were driven, including deputy responsibilities, quiet hours, education, cell checks, meals, lockdowns, and education.
“It will provide a great snapshot of housing conditions, jail rules and regulations, and the overall incarceration experience,” Wriggelsworth said in the release.
This experience will make the Sherriff’s Office better in the future
Wriggelsworth said that though some people question this move and even their sanity by doing this, it will be a great experience for them to make the Sheriff’s Office better in the future. He said that he doesn’t believe that anything like that has been done before in the United States. This is certainly an unusual decision; however, it could have significant results to improve the inmates’ conditions.
Officers said they would not make comments while being in jail.
Source: CBS Detroit