The purpose of the Rabun County Jail is to provide the highest degree of security for the citizens of Rabun County, and safety for both the staff and the inmates of the detention system in a professional and cost efficient manner. The facility staff has the responsibility to provide and operate a facility as efficiently and effectively as possible while performing its mission, and planning creatively today for future criminal justice needs.
The facility will provide secure, constitutional and humane care for adult male and female inmates consistent with the United States and the State of Georgia Constitutions and Georgia Jail Standards for:
Inmates on pretrial status until disposition of their cases;
Post trial inmates sentenced to the facility until their sentence has been served.
The facility will serve the needs of all user agencies and individuals including inmates, staff, law enforcement, judicial authorities, attorneys, community service providers, clergy and visitors.
The philosophy of the facility is predicated upon two underlying assumptions:
Incarceration is, in and of itself, punishment.
All inmates shall be accountable for their actions while confined in the Rabun County Jail.
The Rabun County Sheriff recognizes that detention of pretrial inmates is not for punishment, as guilt has not yet been determined. The purpose of pretrial detention is:
To ensure appearance of the accused at trial.
The purpose of Post trial incarceration is:
Punish through loss of freedom and deter from further criminal and or antisocial behavior.
To incapacitate those who may commit additional crimes.
To aid and assist those inmates who show a desire and interest in self-improvement. This will be accomplished by allowing selected inmates to participate in educational, religious, mental health, substance abuse and employment counseling and treatment services.
Additionally, the Rabun County Jail must meet three basic responsibilities for its user constituencies, which include the inmate population, facility staff, visitors to the center and other professionals who use or visit the facility. These responsibilities are Safety, Security and Service.
With regard to safety, the Rabun County Jail will protect all persons who enter the facility. A safe, secure and orderly environment for all users, staff, inmates and visitors will be achieved to assure they are not subjected to physical, emotional or psychological abuse and to minimize personal danger while in the facility. Inmate disciplinary and grievance procedures shall be followed to maintain facility order and resolution of grievances.
With regard to service, The Rabun County Jail shall be aware of the need to reduce prisoner idleness and to conserve and promote human dignity when possible. Inmate labor will be utilized to minimize operational costs and minimize idleness in such areas as facility sanitation, food services and laundry services. Inmates will have access to services for self development, general counseling, alcohol and drug counseling and adult basic education programs in order to prepare themselves for eventual return to the community.
With regard to security, the Rabun County Jail will provide adequate numbers of trained correctional personnel whose primary responsibilities are to ensure facility security; staff, inmate and visitor safety; inmate care and supervision required for response to basic needs of inmates consistent with a constitutional and humane environment, and the encouragement and reinforcement of positive inmate behavior. Personal supervision of inmates will be utilized to the extent possible to promote safety and respond to the basic needs of inmates.
Don W. Page, Sheriff