Author: Chris Wolff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10292019

DAVIDSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ENDS ICE HOUSING CONTRACT
Effective December 1, DCSO will no longer house ICE detainees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall announced today effective December 1, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) will no longer contract to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. This move comes after meeting with local advocacy groups, Mayor John Cooper, Metropolitan Council members, and internal stakeholders.

“The continued confusion and hyper-political nature of this issue has become a distraction from sheriff’s office priorities,” Hall said. “The number of individuals detained as a result of this contract is less than one percent of overall jail bookings; however, I spend an inordinate amount of my time debating its validity.”

Since 1996, Metro government, not the DCSO, has received revenue from a council-approved contract to house various federal detainees including ICE. The sheriff’s office is currently in negotiations with the United States Marshal Service (USMS) to remove ICE from that contract. The DCSO, under a renewed council-approved agreement, will continue to house individuals who are in USMS custody.

“Over the past 15 years, I challenge you to find a sheriff’s office whose immigration-related policies have been more responsible,” Hall said. “Taking into consideration our important public safety role and our goal of being community-minded, we have always worked to see our policies evolve accordingly. This approach hasn’t always been popular, but responsible. We will now move forward, continuing to focus on significant issues such as decriminalization of mental illness and criminal justice reform.”

Hall says, DCSO’s future ICE interaction will be limited to that which is required by state law.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2019

INAUGURAL SHERIFF’S CITIZENS’ ACADEMY BEGINS TUESDAY

Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall is scheduled to kick-off the academy and welcome 16 students who will spend six weeks learning about the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall will welcome 16 students Tuesday to its inaugural Sheriff’s Citizens’ Academy (SCA). Participants will spend the next six weeks learning about the complexities of operating jails, booking arrestees, housing inmates, and various other duties associated with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Graduation is scheduled for November 5 in the new Downtown Detention Center (DDC).

“It’s important our community learns more about how we operate, why we do the things we do, and better understands the challenges our staff face,” Hall said. “Our duties to this county are behind the walls of secured facilities and we are, primarily, judged by failures. I really want people to come in, see what goes on behind those walls, and appreciate how we are working every day to change lives. The day we are just warehousing people is the day I no longer want this job.”

After Hall’s 6 p.m. welcome and a quick class photo in front of the DDC, Tuesday night begins with a tour of the Hill Detention Center, 506 Second Avenue North. Participants will see the temporary booking room, property room, and inmate housing. Weeks following will include areas of the Justice A.A. Birch Building where inmates are secured near court rooms, the Correctional Development Center – Male, Maximum Correctional Center, and an inside look at DCSO’s Special Operations Response Team. Although not yet ready for official tours, the class will complete week six with a sneak peek of the DDC and the Behavioral Care Center; finally, graduating in the DDC’s fourth floor employee dining hall.

“This first class was hand-picked and we could not be more excited about their involvement,” Hall said. “We wanted a group who would give productive and serious feedback in order to improve for future classes. Our plans are to open applications next year to any Nashvillian who is interested in learning more about the DCSO.”

For more: www.sheriff.nashville.gov or on Twitter @NashSheriff.

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