In July, Houston County, Ga. Sheriff's Office Major Charles Holt was named Georgia Detention Administrator of the Year by the Georgia Jail Association, an honor that he considers to be one of the greatest accomplishments of his lifelong career in law enforcement.  Holt believes that this award reflects the success he has had running the new county jail since he assumed control of it when it opened two years ago.

Recently, Holt talked with The Corrections Connection Network News about his experience in the law enforcement field and what the Georgia Jail Association's award means to him.

Q: How did you get into the law enforcement field?

Holt: I've been with the Houston County Sheriff's Office for 32 years.  I've had every job in law enforcement within our department.  We built a 516-bed jail facility two years ago and I was put in charge of it - to staff it, do the hiring, get our supervisors oriented to the facility and set up the pop.  And here we are.

I knew the sheriff (Cullen Talton) who runs the department.  When he was making a lot of progressive changes, I wanted to be a part of those changes.  The year that he was elected I came to work from him.  He hired me when I was 21 years-old and I've been with him since. 

This is my home.  I've lived here all my life.  [I] grew up here and so [did] the sheriff.

Q: What are your responsibilities at the jail?

Holt: I am the jail administrator.  I am responsible for the operations of the jail, the well being of the inmates [and] for the proper training and management of the staffing for the jail.

Q: What challenges do you face in your current position?

Holt: The biggest challenge that we have in this position was in opening the new jail, we had to double the staff.  The incoming employees had to be screened for suitability in this work environment.  They had to be trained, we had to put them in place [and] organize the structure.  [We also had to] go from linear supervision into direct supervision.  It was just a major change all at one time.

Q: How did you handle the difficulties of making such big changes?

Holt: [With] just hard work.  We had a lot of very good upper-level supervisors who were willing to take the time to work with me and be part of the change and together we were able to move the operations from one jail into the new jail.  We moved all the inmates over in one weekend.  We started the direct supervision method at the moment that we moved the inmates in.  We've used that management style since the day of opening the jail.  We've gotten our people trained and well-oriented.  Everyone is more than qualified to do their job and do it properly.  We have a very professional staff.

Q: What have some of your greatest accomplishments been during your time with the sheriff's office?

Holt: During the past 32 years, I've worked as a patrol deputy.   I worked 14 years as an investigator.  I worked for 10 years as the patrol supervisor and the last few years, I've been here in the jail.  Over the years, I've [received] several notable awards - I've been officer of the year.  I've received several commendations from civic organizations.  [I've] been a guest of honor at several appearances - just various achievements throughout my 32 year career.

But probably the greatest accomplishment [and] recognition that I have achieved was being named administrator of the year this year.

Q: What does being named Detention Administrator of the Year mean to you?

Holt: It was a humbling experience, but it more or less made it clear to me that I along with the staff had met the challenges that we faced.  We had accomplished something to be extremely proud of.  [I'd say] it was quite a spectacular achievement for the overall department.  I think the sheriff himself was proud of my getting the award and at the same time was proud of [both] his [and my] efforts in getting the new jail constructed and the operations up and running.

We opened [in] February two years ago.

Q: What do you like best about your job?

Holt: Being in the position to call the shots whenever I see something that needs to be changed or [when an improvement] needs to [be made regarding] operations or personnel.  I am able to go ahead and initiate the action that [will] alleviate the situation or improve it.

Q: What is your advice to other who want to work their way up in the law enforcement field like you have?

Holt: My advice would be to find satisfaction in everything that you do, but most [importantly] that you make sure that you keep the public [as a] partner with you rather than you being superior to the public.  If you can keep your efforts on a personal level, I believe your job performance will be more satisfactory and, in the long run, you'll have great accomplishments.

Q: How do you maintain a balance between your work and outside life?

Holt: I have the advantage of over most people in my position in that my wife is also [in] law enforcement.  I have had her support.  I've had the advantage of being able to have some sympathy and understanding and also some outside advice that has helped me in this accomplishment.