Due to staff shortage and safety concerns, the Saline County Jail has suspended in-person inmate visitations, effective immediately.

According to a release from Sheriff Cindi Mullins, this does not affect telephone calls, video visitation or attorneys meeting with clients in custody.

Sheriff Mullins says one of the duties of the personnel in the communications division is to supervise meetings between inmates and their counsel. She said the agency has been able to get by due to pulling staff who are qualified from other areas.

Right now, Mullins says there are two full-time and two part-time staff members in the communications division. To be considered fully staffed, there is a need for two more full-time communications employees in that part of the facility because it’s staffed 24 hours a day. Four communications division employees have left or are leaving soon. She said some of the communications have been diverted to E-911 for the time being to help alleviate some of the concerns.

Mullins says she is fortunate to have dedicated staff members who have stepped up to fill in when needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says they have performed above and beyond the call of duty.

For more information, you can contact the Sheriff’s office at (660) 886-5512.