MANSFIELD, Ohio — Richland County corrections officer Kristen Stiteler has been selected and is recognized by the American Jail Association as one of the nation’s top 35 correctional professionals under the age of 35, according to sheriff Steve Sheldon.
The American Jail Association is a national, non-profit organization that supports the professionals who operate the nation’s jails. It is the only national association that focuses exclusively on issues specific to the operations of local correctional facilities.
Stiteler began her professional career with the Richland County Jail as a Correctional Officer in August 2008.
“She is one of the hardest workers employed by the Sheriff’s Office and brings excellence to the workplace day in and day out,” Sheldon said. “Officer Stiteler is fair, firm, and consistent towards inmates and is highly respected among her peers, supervisors, and support staff.”
Stiteler started working as a Field Training Officer in 2011. Sheldon said she has displayed a superior knowledge of correctional work and has proven her ability to teach this work to her trainees. Stiteler was named the Corrections Officer of the Year in 2011 for the Sheriff’s Office and was also nominated for this award in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In 2012 Stiteler volunteered to work on a newly created Policy Team that dove into over 1,000 pages of policies and procedures that needed some work, Sheldon said.
“Through years of hard work on this team she played a key role in getting these policies current and accurate allowing the jail to have a successful State Jail Inspection,” Sheldon said. “In 2013, she received two Letters of Appreciation for outstanding correctional work from the Sheriff’s Office.
“Officer Stiteler is a person who carries out her duties to the best of her abilities and does the right thing even when no one else is watching. She brings excellence to our department and continues to fulfill our mission.”
The American Jail Association publishes a national magazine titled American Jails and is in its 35th year of publishing. As part of its 35th anniversary celebration the AJA chose to select and turn the spotlight on 35 high achievers and innovators under the age of 35 who have helped shape and strengthen the industry.
“The Richland County Sheriff’s Office along with the American Jail Association is proud to recognize Officer Stiteler as one of the top 35 correctional professionals under the age of 35 in the country,” Sheldon said.
