This week Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck was on Inside the FLX discussing a number of items, including how his department is preparing for a series of assessments and audits across its divisions while facing a challenging 2025 budget planning process with the county Legislature.
The Sheriff’s Office has recently increased revenue by housing incarcerated individuals from nearby counties, including Jefferson and Oswego, as well as a significant number from Tompkins County while its jail undergoes remodeling. Additionally, federal detainees housed in Cayuga County facilities contribute to the budget. Sheriff Schenck highlighted these board-ins as a key revenue source for the Sheriff’s Office amid the county’s budget constraints.
Sheriff Schenck acknowledged that budget discussions with the county Legislature have proven difficult, with fiscal constraints likely to impact the 2025 budget. He underscored the importance of maintaining funding for public safety and ensuring that the department remains fully staffed and adequately equipped, despite the financial challenges.
A summer 2025 accreditation assessment is scheduled for the department’s Road Patrol Division, which will be conducted by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). In preparation, the division has updated its policies, procedures, and records, and is close to completing an audit of its evidence vaults. Sheriff Schenck noted that these extensive updates are crucial to ensuring the department meets state standards.
Meanwhile, the Custody Division is preparing for its own accreditation assessment, slated for November, by the New York State Sheriff’s Association’s Corrections Accreditation Program. This assessment will involve a thorough review of the division’s operations by assessors from the Sheriff’s Association.
Additionally, Sheriff Schenck said the office’s participation in “No Shave November,”…
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