Central Intake Information Officer

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In November 2012, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was looking into a revolutionary way to effect positive change in our community relations between the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and its citizens. We identified one central truth which applies to everyone: going to jail can be one of the most stressful moments in an indviduals' life. How can we, the members of this organization who oversee the people of the 4th largest County in the world, make an unequivocal impact on its residents that enter our jail system? By implementing the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office "Information Officer" program. The idea was revolutionary, yet simple: each person who enters our Jail through the Central Intake will receive an initial "meet and greet" from our Detention Officer personnel. Once the detainee is greeted by our Information Officer, they would be given a general overview of the Medical, Booking, Mug Shot, Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE interview), Identification, Classification and Court Room processes they are about to take part in. Our goal was to minimize the amount of stress individuals may feel upon entering the jail system, especially if this is their first entry into the jail system.