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Jail

 

Michelle Tippie
Michelle Tippie
Jail Administrator

Captain Michelle Tippie leads our team of correctional professionals and oversees all aspects of our 106-bed facility, focusing on public, staff and inmate safety.  Some of her responsibilities include ensuring the secured detention of pre-trial detainees as well as convicted inmates who are serving their sentence or awaiting transport to another facility.  The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office not only houses our own prisoners, but also those arrested by city police departments within Cherokee County, state agencies, other contract counties in Kansas and the Kansas Department of Corrections. 

In addition, Captain Tippie is responsible for scheduling and arranging inmate extraditions, processing warrants, bonds and commissary, assessing inmates for security risks, ensuring legitimate medical needs are addressed and overseeing our inmate work detail program.

Work Detail inmates are responsible for a wide variety of tasks within the Sheriff's Office, some of which include: assisting in preparing and serving inmate meals, janitorial services, laundry, maintenance, painting, mowing grass, emergency vehicle cleaning and other work deemed appropriate.  A Corrections Officer oversees the work detail at all times.  All inmates, regardless of whether they are assigned to work detail or not, are responsible for the daily cleaning of cells and prisoner pods.

Upon reporting for duty, correctional officers are given their shift assignment, which may include the Booking Officer Post or serving as the Control Panel Operator.

Booking Officer: This officer is responsible for the receiving and intake process for all incoming prisoners and out-processing those prisoners being released from custody.  This includes computer book-in, photographing, searching, change-out, fingerprinting and placing inmates.  This officer also handles incoming and outgoing inmate correspondence and has direct contact with inmates in the general housing areas.

Control Panel Operator: This officer is responsible for all incoming telephone calls to the jail, and electronically controls all entrance and exit points to the facility, monitors all security video surveillance systems, operates the intercom system, observes inmates in the housing areas, communicates with the inmates and staff via intercom, updates inmate rosters and processes all completed book-in files.


 The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

PREA a federal law enacted in 2003, was created to eliminate sexual abuse in confinement. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office supports the prevention, reduction, and elimination of sexual assault and rape within its Jail Facility. This is done through education, interaction, and enforcement to reduce the possibility of dangerous and harmful behaviors.

 

Links to PREA Resources

 

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office PREA Policy

 

Cherokee County PREA Brochure

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 2017 Data Collections Summary

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 2018 Data Collections Summary

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 2019 Data Collections Summary

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 2020 Data Collections Summary

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 2021 Data Collections Summary

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 2022 Data Collections Summary

Final PREA Audit Report

Final 2022 PREA Audit Report

Final 2023 PREA Audit Report

Cherokee County PREA Poster:  English    Spanish


Facility Visitation

Inmate Visitation: Visitation is held on Saturdays 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00pm to 10:00 pm; and on Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Visitations are approved and scheduled by appointment only.  Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling (620) 429-3897 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.


Funding an Inmates Account

Adding Money to an Inmates Account can now be done online or by phone 24 hours / 7 days a week:

Click here to add money to Inmate Account

 

Money can also be added to an Inmate Account using the Kiosk located in the Entry of the Sheriff's Office.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

Homeland Security Investigations

Victim Notification Program

The link listed below is a universal resource locator for the Homeland Security Investigations Victim Notification Program. A victim or witness can simply click on the hyperlink and be transferred to a number of valuable victim services programs provided by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

http://www.ice.gov/victim-notification


Bonding Procedures

What To Do If you wish to Bond a Person from the Cherokee County Jail

Inquire the suspect’s charges and bond amount form the Cherokee County Correctional Staff. 

Determine if you wish to pay a cash bond or utilize the services of an authorized bonding agent.

Notify the correctional staff at 620-429-3897 of your decision.

If you choose to utilize a bonding agent, the 11th Judicial District must approve him or her. 

The 11th Judicial District of Kansas has approved the following bonding agents:

Authorized Bonding Agents


Inmate Communication System

Inmates are allowed up to 30 minutes per visit. These visits are conducted via the Internet from video stations located in prisoner housing units, and from PCs at home.

Register to Visit via the Internet

Log on to the website using Inmate Communication (Voice / Email / Video)

Follow the registration procedure

 CONDUCT

 If a Video Visitor is: 

  • Disruptive
  • Acting in an inappropriate manner
  • Not properly dressed

 OR

 If during the Video Visit, the Inmate becomes:

  • Disruptive
  • Acts in an inappropriate manner

 The visit will be stopped by staff and future visitation privileges may be revoked

ALL VISITS MAY BE RECORDED


 


PREA Data Collection Summary 2017

Between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office received one report of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The incident was reported to a CO/Front line staff member. A female inmate alleged another female inmate, who was housed with her, was making inappropriate sexual comments towards her. The alleged incident was reported to have occurred in area which is regularly monitored by staff. The investigation resulted in an unsubstantiated finding. The female inmate who reported the allegations was transferred to an alternative housing location. No further reports or complaints were made.

This incident and data from the 2017 reporting period is similar to that of 2016.

During both years, a single case involving females housed together making inappropriate sexual comments and behaviors towards another female inmate, was reported and investigated. The cases both yielded findings of being unsubstantiated and resulted in those involved being housed in alternative locations.


PREA Data Collection Summary 2018

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office documents and investigates all reported occurrences of nonconsensual sex acts, whether alleged to have been completed or attempted, as well as any allegations of abusive sexual contact and sexual harassment, whether solely involving inmates or involving inmates and staff members.

There were no reports of sexual misconduct or harassment involving staff members during the 2018 reporting period.

During the period of January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, there were two allegations made, both of which solely involved inmates. At the conclusion of the investigations, one was determined to be unfounded while the other was unsubstantiated.

Both allegations involved male inmates in an area regularly monitored by staff and in both instances, parties reportedly involved were relocated.

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office continues to maintain, review and collect data as needed from all available incident- based documents, including reports, investigation files, and sexual abuse incident reviews. Upon request, the agency will continue to make its best efforts and provide all such data from the previous year to the Department of Justice no later than June 30.

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office will make its best efforts to continue to review the data collected and aggregated pursuant to PREA standard 115.87 in order to assess and improve the effectiveness of its sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response policies, practices, and training and take into account any corrective action necessary.


PREA Data Collection Summary 2019

During the period between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office had no substantiated reports of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. On November 12 and 13, 2019 The Cherokee County Jail had the second audit that assessed for compliance with P.R.E.A.; the National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) for adult prisons and jails. Since there were no substantiated reports for the 2019 year there is no data to compare with the data to the previous year. Any corrective action that is necessary always considers identifying problem areas; and taking that corrective action on an ongoing basis; and preparing an annual report of its findings. There's always progress that can be achieved when addressing sexual abuse and with the continued efforts and success to compliance with the PREA standards we're committed as an agency.


PREA Data Collection Summary 2020

From the time period dating from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office had no substantiated reports of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. However, there were 2 incidents which were reported and investigated.

One case alleged Inmate-on-Inmate Sexual Harassment. The PREA investigator determined that after reviewing the complaint, it was his opinion as a trained PREA investigator that the alleged acts were not a PREA violation and nor were they criminal in nature. That case was found to be unsubstantiated.

The second case alleged Staff sexual misconduct or Staff-on- Inmate. The PREA investigator again determined that after reviewing the complaint, it was his opinion as a trained PREA investigator that the alleged acts were not a PREA violation and nor were they criminal in nature. That case was found to be unfounded.

In comparison with the previous year there were no substantiated incidents of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office continues to show careful consideration for the inmates housed in its facility when addressing sexual abuse.


PREA Data Collection Summary 2021

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office documents and investigates all reported occurrences of nonconsensual sex acts, whether alleged to have been completed or attempted, as well as any allegations of abusive sexual contact and sexual harassment, whether solely involving inmates or involving inmates and staff members.

There were no reports of sexual misconduct or harassment involving staff members during the 2021 reporting period.

During the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, there were two allegations made, both of which solely involved inmates. At the conclusion of the investigations, one was determined to be unfounded while the other was unsubstantiated.

Both allegations involved male inmates in an area regularly monitored by staff and in both instances, parties reportedly involved were relocated.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office continues to maintain, review and collect data as needed from all available incident- based documents, including reports, investigation files, and sexual abuse incident reviews. Upon request, the agency will continue to make its best efforts and provide all such data from the previous year to the Department of Justice no later than June 30.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office will make its best efforts to continue to review the data collected and aggregated pursuant to PREA standard 115.87 in order to assess and improve the effectiveness of its sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response policies, practices, and training and take into account any corrective action necessary.


PREA Data Collection Summary 2022

From the time period dating from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office had one substantiated report of sexual abuse or sexual harassment.  There were 10 incidents which were reported and investigated.

Once case alleged Inmate-on-Inmate Sexual Harassment.  The PREA Investigator determined that after reviewing the complaint, it was the opinion of the trained PREA investigator that the alleged acts were a PREA violation; however they were not criminal in nature.  That case was found to be substantiated.

The second case alleged staff sexual misconduct or staff-on-inmate.  The PREA investigator determined that after reviewing the complaint, it was the opinion as a trained PREA investigator that the alleged acts were not a PREA violation nor were they criminal in nature. 

The other eight alleged complaints reported to be inmate-on-inmate sexual harassment.  All of the incidents were independently investigated by a PREA Investigator, who determined after reviewing the complaints, the alleged acts were not a PREA violation, nor where they found to be criminal in nature. 

In comparison to the previous year, there was one substantiated incident of sexual abuse or sexual harassment.  

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office continues to show careful consideration for the inmates housed in its facility with addressing sexual abuse. 

 

 
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