The Steuben County Jail is part of the Public Safety Building and has a maximum inmate capacity of 262.  The design of the jail is based on the theory of “Direct Supervision”.  All inmate cells are constructed around a common day room area that creates a small housing unit.  All five housing units have easy access to inmate program areas such as visitation, educational and religious activities. 

All of the Jail’s inmate Housing Units are designed for the Direct Supervision of inmates, a modern correctional practice.  Each Housing Unit is subdivided for classification and security purposes.

Six of the seven inmate Housing Units are designated for male inmates and one for female inmates.

One Housing Unit is a dormitory setting and can hold up to 48 medium security male inmates.  The Jail’s two newest housing units opened in December of 2007 can hold up to 49 inmates each and both are currently assigned to male inmates.

Direct supervision is a combination of implementing an innovative management and operational philosophy, facility design and staff training. 
In each of these housing units, a Corrections Officer supervises the inmates by working in the inmate living area and is not isolated from inmates by bars, secure workstations or control booths. 

Research has shown that Officers in the unit are able to better know the inmates and can anticipate problems before they escalate into violence.  Correction Officers become proactive, rather than reactive or defensive.  Staff members become more dependent upon negotiation, communication and conflict management skills rather than physical strength. 

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VISITATION GUIDELINES

Saturday + Sunday

General Population Inmates
0745 – 0845                                                       1515 – 1615
0930 – 1030                                                       1700 – 1800
1145 – 1245                                                       1900 – 2000
1330 – 1430                                                       2045 – 2145

Monday and Friday

Inmates under disciplinary action
1945  –  2045    
Visitors are asked to arrive at thirty minutes prior to the visit and all visits are on a first come basis.  All visitors must present valid identification at each visit.

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CORRECTION OFFICERS

Correction Officers have the responsibility for maintaining the safety and security of the Jail building, staff and inmates.  Correction Officers perform tasks that include:

• Security tours to insure accountability and inmate safety.
• Supervise inmate exercise
• Supervise inmate law library
• Supervise inmate educational programs
• Supervise inmates in work programs
• Assist staff medical personnel
  
• Supervise the distribution of  meals for the inmates
  
• Transport inmates to courts and outside medical services. 

TRAINING

The Steuben County hosts many Correction and Law Enforcement training sessions that are open to outside agencies.  Counties and Law Enforcement agencies that have sent participants to train include:

• Ontario County Sheriff’s Office
• Chemung County Sheriff’s Office
• Yates County Sheriff’s Office
• Livingston County Sheriff’s Office
• Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office
• Allegany County Sheriff’s Office
• Corning Police Department
• Elmira Police Department
• Cornell University
• New York State Commission of Correction

Training includes:

• Basic Training for Correction Officers
• Instructor Development
• Chemical Agents
• Firearms