By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

After a rough year of escapes, arrests and the resignation of its last leader, the Osceola County Corrections Department now has a new jail director who plans to revamp the system and tighten up procedures and practices.

Sherry Johnson, who took command Sept. 11, has three main issues on her radar – public safety, a healthy work environment and the decorum of her employees both on and off the job.

“There will undoubtedly be changes. This is our opportunity to do a complete overhaul,” Johnson said at a meet-and-greet Wednesday. “We all know this is the show-and-tell time and we're going to have to demonstrate those things.”

While Johnson, 45, acknowledged that citing specific changes would be a security risk, she said the previous problems the jail experienced made her realize she could help.

The jail had been the center of controversy this year after two inmates escaped in just over a month's time and another convicted felon was accidentally released. Additionally, several inmates had drugs hidden in their cells.

“It was a little risk (applying for the job). I was on the fast track (in Orange County) probably to be chief,” Johnson said. “What drove me was the profession and bringing the respect back to this agency.”

Osceola County Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr. supported hiring Johnson because her focus aligned with what both County Manager Don Fisher and the County Commission wanted.

“I support the new jail director Sherry Johnson because she comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience and with a positive direction where she sees this facility needs to go. That direction is in line with what the county manager and the board has stated needs to be done,” Hawkins said. “She also impressed me with her focus and what she wants to implement as far as employees and the morale issue at the facility.”

Johnson said she plans to work on instilling confidence about the jail back into Osceola County residents and boosting employee morale.

“People were embarrassed to wear the uniform,” she said. “I wanted to give them the opportunity to get some pride back.”

More than 120 people were recently hired at the jail and Johnson said she anticipates filling an additional 40 vacancies after she determines where the greatest needs are. New hiring procedures – including more thorough and consistent background checks – began before Johnson was hired, a process she said she would continue.

Johnson plans to re-establish the internal affairs department, which, she said, was not constant under previous leaders, and hone a stronger, more effective internal discipline department. Still, another group would focus on security and trends, such as why fights always occur in one holding area over another or how narcotics keep appearing in certain inmates' cells.

“It's almost like dissecting something and putting it back together,” she said. “The piece that was missing was leadership.”

Additionally, security procedures such as new razor ribbon on the recently reconstructed perimeter fence and better technology aids in Johnson's desire to beef up escape prevention.

Although Osceola County commissioners approved the jail's budget before Johnson was hired, including an emergency $4 million that was approved in March to fix issues the jail was experiencing, Johnson said several areas could be reworked to minimize costs and lower the budget.

Johnson has spent nearly a quarter of a century working in the criminal justice field, including the last 20 years serving the Orange County Corrections Department; for the last two years she was the major in charge of security operations.

Johnson comes from an Orlando facility where she was responsible for nearly 1,000 employees and close to 4,000 inmates. The Osceola County Jail currently houses just over 1,000 inmates and employs less than 400 people.

Johnson has been commended for inmate suicide prevention, including an incident at Orange County's Horizon Facility where she prevented an inmate from jumping from the second story balcony. She also has received numerous awards for job performance and charitable activities.