NORMAN, Okla. - Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason announces the detention center is at full staff for the first time since the start of the COVID Pandemic.
Like many agencies’ in Okla. and throughout the nation, the Cleveland County Detention Center has struggled to maintain the appropriate staff levels to efficiently run the detention center. From employees being placed on quarantine and those leaving the agency for other opportunities, it was difficult to find replacements with the job climate as it was.
Sheriff Amason praised detention staff saying;
“Our staff has done a tremendous job throughout the entirety of the pandemic to ensure the detention center was run as smoothly as possible. Putting in extra hours and giving up time with their families to maintain the security and efficiency of the facility, I can say without a doubt this office has the best employees.”
In Sept 2021, Sheriff Amason launched Guardian Alliance Technologies services within the sheriff’s office. Providing cloud-based software to improve the process of vetting and hiring personnel, Guardian assists the sheriff’s office in speeding up the hiring process. This technology enables our agency to complete background investigations far faster, and with more accuracy than ever before without pulling a detective from their caseload.
“I chose to devote one full-time employee to oversee the hiring process. This employee guides all new applicants thorough the hiring and onboarding process, freeing up other employees and providing one point of contact for all employment services.” Amason says.
Having the detention center at full staff will allow for the return of programs and services put on hold due to COVID precautions and staffing levels, and ease the stress and workload of those that kept the detention center going.