County mulls merging corrections, community corrections departments

Shawnee County commissioners plan to consider consolidation the county’s corrections and community corrections departments under the control of the corrections department.

Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook plan to hear the first reading Monday of a proposed home resolution sponsored by Archer that would make that move, according to information in the agenda packet for that meeting made public this week by the county.

Community corrections had been part of the corrections department until commissioners made it a separate department in 2000. Archer said Thursday that Rebecca Cartmill retires soon as head of the community corrections department, and no succession planning has been performed.

“So, we are returning to the previous model of community corrections reporting to the department of corrections team to ensure strong leadership, results and accountability,” he said.

Archer’s proposal says: “Effective June 1, 2019, the personnel and functions of the Shawnee County Community Corrections Department shall be transferred to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. The Director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections shall supervise and direct the personnel and functions of the Shawnee County Community Corrections Department.”