So what is a jailer, and what do they do?
Turns out, Kentucky is the only state with elected jailers; in most states, the sheriff’s office operates them.
Kentucky jailers are responsible for inmate processing and maintaining order in the jail.
Campbell County Jailer Jim Daley said it’s this way because that’s what our forefathers decided.
“It’s a good thing because it directly holds us accountable to the citizen and the voters,” Daley said.
The Campbell County Detention Center holds maximum, medium and minimum-security inmates, according to their website. The Detention Center services all police agencies in Campbell County, including Northern Kentucky University Police and the Kentucky State Police. The Detention Center also houses federal inmates for the United States Marshal Service.
Daley, of California, who is running for re-election, has been Campbell County Jailer since 2013 when Judge/Executive Steve Pendery appointed him to fill the unexpired term of Greg Buckler. He officially ran for the position in 2015 and was elected to office.
“Right now is not a good time for a change,” Daley said. “I would like to take credit for all the good things we’ve done, but I have a good staff. I think we are in a position where if we have a new person, there is so much going on in this field through the state with the pandemic, pay and low staff. We made great strides, and we still have a lot to do.”
Daley has two opponents running against him. Both Noah Schoultheis of Highland Heights and William “Billy” Fuller of Alexandria were previously deputy jailers at the Campbell County Detention Center. A position they say gave them the valuable insight they would utilize as the jailer.
If he were elected, Fuller said his primary focus would be on employee retention and implementing a reentry program.
“With employee retention, you can fix a lot of other things,” Fuller said. “I would review the appreciation for the administration—fair yearly evaluations. I’d review pay, shift differential, career advancement opportunities. And a simple one that no one ever talks about, and I didn’t realize it until I work where I work, but PTO accrual rates. They’re very low there.”
Fuller said inmates are not getting the tools they need to help when released. He said reentry programs are classes approximately three months before an inmate’s release to help them get things like driver’s licenses and social security cards.
“Reentry programs just give you the tools you need to succeed when you release,” Fuller said. “I would like to see us eventually; I know Kenton County uses a nonprofit to assist once you’re released. You can join a program there. And it helps you as you’re getting off the streets and you’re starting over. I’d like to see Campbell County either join the same one or find one to join.”
Schoultheis said his priorities as the jailer would be focusing on the deputies, having a solid administrative presence, and creating a clean and safe jail for inmates and deputies.
He said he would dive into the budget to see how he could get deputies paid more. Schoultheis also said he wanted to create a group of deputies willing to speak with the administration monthly or quarterly to tell them things that they recognize could be run better or need to change.
“We really want to make sure our deputies are happy because if our deputies aren’t happy, then our staffing issues are going to stay the same,” Schoultheis said.
He also said he wants his staff to know the administration is transparent and approachable.
“We don’t want them to feel like there’s not an open-door policy. If they need to come to speak with us about anything, our door will be completely open,” Schoultheis said. “They will have full access to us at all times.”
He said he wanted to look into better paid time off and insurance plans to make staff feel like it is a career they can grow into.
Schoultheis also said he would look into making new positions, such as a corporal, so deputies don’t feel stuck at one level in their career. He also said if anyone wanted special training, he would provide that.
“The facility I really want to be able to bring that up to code,” Schoultheis said. “Make sure that this is a clean, healthy environment and a safe environment for the deputies as well as the inmates.”
Daley said if re-elected, he would continue to support their drug program. He said the Campbell County jail is the only one in the state with a Ph.D. in mental health on staff who assists the drug program.
“So many inmates come in with mental health issues,” Daley said. “It’s a priority for jails.”
Daley said the jail is advertising job positions and working on getting “good, qualified people hired.”
The jail also operates a GED program to help inmates earn their high school diploma. Daley said they are partnered with the Life Learning Center. They come into the jail to work with inmates on getting jobs and help with resumes.Â
What makes each candidate suitable for the position?
Daley said he is the only lawyer in the commonwealth that runs a jail. He was the County Attorney from 2009 to 2011. He was on the Legal Counsel for the Campbell County Detention Center from 2011 to 2013 and continues his legal council today at Daley, Cottingham, Brandt & Associates, PLLC.
Previously, Daley served on the Kentucky State Police from 1979 to 1995. Then became Executive Director of Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force from 1995 to 1998. Daley got his first taste of being a jailer when he was appointed the position in 1998 by the then Judge/Executive Ken Paul to fill the unexpired term of the jailer. He held the position until 1999.
Schoultheis was deputy jailer at the Campbell County Detention Center from 2017 to 2019 and the Kenton County Detention Center from 2019 to 2020. Schoultheis currently works in the FDA department at DHL, where he handles the medical companies that utilize DHL.
Fuller was deputy jailer at the Campbell County Detention Center from 2012 to 2015. In 2012 he was named deputy jailer of the year for finding and saving an inmate who was trying to commit suicide while Fuller was conducting a headcount. He also helped conduct CPR on an older inmate who was having a heart attack, saving him.
Fuller has worked security for a large Cincinnati hospital for the last six and a half years. He is in charge of training and certification of 120 security professionals. He also became a certified Ohio Peace Officer instructor in the use of force, impact weapons and OC spray.
Fuller said his passion is what makes him the best candidate.
“I know in my heart this is what I want to do,” Fuller said. “There’s no other thing I want to do in this world than to run this jail. I’m not into politics. I’m not that person. I’m thankful that there is a political side of this to where I can run for jailer. But I wouldn’t run for any other position. This is the only position I want. I just want to create a better jail for the county, and that’s where my passion lies.”
Schoultheis said he would be willing to take a pay cut to ensure the changes, such as giving deputies raises, get implemented. He said he thinks that speaks volumes to show he is not in this for the money or recognition.
“I bring a younger mindset by bringing the ability to accept changes,” Schoultheis said. “And I have the ability to step into the shoes of a deputy jailer, meaning I worked the floor not too long ago. I know where things are at. I’m not really stretched as far out as the other candidates. I have new ideas that I want to bring to the table. It’s just a matter of getting in there and bringing these new ideas.”
Daley said it is important to go out and vote in the primaries, so the most qualified candidate is elected.
“In state politics, the primary election is of paramount importance,” Daley said. “Some races are all decided during the primary. Once this is over, there is no general election. That’s true for my race, and several others are decided in the primary because no democrat is running. Vote now, or you’ll be stuck with something less than suitable for the next four years.”
