Message from the President

As the Kansas Jail Association moves from year to year, I believe we occasionally have to stop and ask ourselves three questions:

• Where have we been?
• Where we are and where are we going?
• How do we get there?

Where have we been is always the easiest to answer because we have the benefit of hindsight. Through the work of many dedicated professionals and the support of the Kansas Sheriffs' Association, the Kansas Jail Association was established 2004. The association in 2006 successfully took command of and further developed the training available to all jails and staff in the State of Kansas. In 2010, the association joined with the Kansas Sheriffs' association and became part of the annual conference. Although there are many other accomplishments the association has made these are three of the bigger ones again through the work of many dedicated professionals and the support of our sheriffs.

Where we are and where we are going a little harder to answer but still can be answered. We have just had our first successful full term president complete their term in office since the development of the Kansas Jail Association and I would like to congratulate Judy Wing from Pratt County on this accomplishment. We are continuing to develop the training programs we have so that the programs are able to be what the members of the Kansas Jail Association need. We have established a more fluid communication process between the jails in Kansas and have been able to help many professionals and be helped by many jail professionals. As for where we are going I believe would be to say we are going to continue to develop our training program and strive to continue to find ways to help and benefit all members of the association in a way they need.

How do we get there is the hardest question to answer because it usually means we are venturing into an unknown territory. We as an organization have to grow stronger for the members and one way of doing that is for more members to join the Kansas Jail Association so please encourage jail professionals to join. We also need to make sure we never forget where we came from so I would also encourage all KJA members to join the Kansas Sheriffs' Association as well. We have to continue to hone and keep growing in the area of training until there is state law requiring training as there is for the patrol persons of Kansas. Last but not least we need to find the ways that will better benefit and support our members which could come in many forms such as death benefits, insurance and or discounts, Critical Incident Stress Team and so on. It will be determined what direction we move by the members so I encourage all members to contact your representatives and let them know what you need or would like to see from your Kansas Jail Association.

I fully believe together we can stand and be recognized as professionals and make jails a desired and wanted career for future generations. We will utilize the support we have from the Kansas Sheriffs' Association but we must also stand and support ourselves and each other to make your association not only survive but grow to be whatever you need it to be.

- KJA President Chris Weis