CASE STUDY: Macon County Sheriff’s Office

Located in Decatur, Illinois, Macon County Sheriff’s Office’s mission is to serve the community with a highly motivated, professional staff of individuals who strive to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. They work to create a safe environment for Macon County residents and visitors by preserving the peace and enforcing the laws. The men and women of the MCSO also volunteer their time and skills through community service to ensure that Macon County will be a better place to live for everyone. They are always working to do better for the people of Macon County.

Before 1989, the Macon County Jail was located above the Macon County Courthouse, which housed approximately 80 inmates. In 1989, the Law Enforcement Center was constructed, with the jail located on the second floor. When it first opened, it housed approximately 195 inmates. In 2001, the Bivens-Whitten Juvenile Detention Center, which is attached to the jail, was closed and the building was remodeled to house adult prisoners in 2006. After the remodeling, the current 92,000-square-foot jail houses up to 425 inmates, with an average of 300 inmates housed at a time.

KEY FACILITY PARTNERS: Sheriff Jim Root, Lt. Jamie Belcher, Lt. Clayton Barrows, Meghan Morey

CHALLENGES: Macon County Sheriff’s Office was not satisfied with their previous inmate communications provider. The previous provider’s equipment was continuously failing, and their customer service was lacking in quick, efficient response time and support. Eagerly searching for a more innovative, reliable, comprehensive solution with a company that could provide top-notch service and support, Macon County released a request for proposal (RFP) for new inmate communications and technology solutions. HomeWAV seized the opportunity to respond to the RFP, and Macon County felt the company was the best fit, selecting HomeWAV in March 2022 as their new partner to connect inmates with their loved ones.

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