MANSFIELD — The Richland County Sheriff’s Office has announced that Captain Chris Blunk recently received the national designation of Certified Jail Manager (CJM) by the authority of the American Jail Association through the Jail Manager Certification Commission.
This hallmark certification is granted upon the successful completion of a rigid experiential background application and an intensive four-hour examination jointly prepared by the American Jail Association and the Jail Manager Certification Commission.
Certification in jail management is a demonstration of competency and professionalism in the field. It documents the mastery of a strong level of knowledge in the specialty and demonstrates continuing education and growth.
Captain Blunk has been employed with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for over 17 years serving all of his career in the jail. Captain Blunk was hired in 1998 as a correctional officer and was promoted to jail sergeant in 2006. In 2013 he was promoted to Assistant Jail Administrator and then to Jail Administrator in 2014.
Captain Blunk serves on the local Citizens Advisory Board, Community Corrections Board, and the Pioneer Vocational Criminal Justice Board. He is married and has four children and enjoys teaching Sunday School at North Woodbury Alliance Church.
The American Jail Association is a national, nonprofit, educational organization delivering professional development, personal certification, and advocacy services to correctional personnel at all ranks and operational levels working in this Nation’s 3,200-plus jails and detention facilities.
It is the only association of its kind that focuses exclusively on issues affecting today’s jail professional. Appointed by the association’s Board of Directors, the five-member commission administers the Certified Jail Officer Program, in addition to the Certified Jail Manager Program; sets policy; and assures the two programs reflect the changing needs of the profession.
