NCJ Number
199920
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Dated: April 2003 Pages: 74-76
Date Published
April 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the transition process of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Abstract
Within a 3-month period during the summer of 2002, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office experienced major transitions as the construction of two new jail pods was completed, a new headquarters building was completed and occupied, and a new Sheriff was appointed. In order to effectively and positively manage changes in the administration of the Office, the new Sheriff implemented a deliberate transition plan designed to reflect on past challenges, evaluate the present position of the agency, and plan for the future. The transition plan began with mandatory readings that were assigned to all 109 first-line supervisors and above. Following the readings was a mandatory personal interview with all supervisors that involved the use of a survey instrument in order to standardize the process. Interviewees were asked to answer questions regarding their role in the organization, challenges they face in their jobs, potential solutions to the challenges, and bits of personal information that would help the new Sheriff get to know each supervisor as an individual. Finally, a 3-day advance was held in which short-term, mid-range, and long-term goals were discussed. The re-organization of the Sheriff’s Office was explained and four presentations given by the new Sheriff and three outside speakers were scheduled. The goals of the 3-day advance were to explain the re-organization, identify challenges, and to identify possible solutions to the challenges. In conclusion, the transition phase was accomplished by empowering employees to share their vision of the past, present, and future of the Sheriff’s Office.