Sheriff pays annual Christmas visit to jail
Donald Smith met with each of the facility's 71 inmates to extend holiday greetings and wish them a bright future.
Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith spent part of Christmas at the county jail, greeting inmates and wishing the staff a happy holiday season.
The visit has been an annual tradition for the sheriff since he took office 16 years ago.
Monday’s visit had a twofold purpose: Because Smith lost his re-election bid last month and is leaving office at the end of this week, he also bid the jail staff farewell and thanked them for their service.
“For those assigned to work on the sacred holiday, it’s important that the officers realize their duty is appreciated,” Smith said. “And for those incarcerated, we want them to become productive citizens and not experience a life of crime consisting of county time, state time.”
The sheriff, accompanied by corrections officers, visited each of the jail’s 71 inmates — 64 men and seven women — to extend holiday greetings and wish them a bright future.
A male inmate thanked Smith for visiting.
“It’s nice that you give up your holiday to spend the time with us,” he said. “We all screwed up, but I want to rehabilitate myself and become a good member of society again.”
A young female inmate told the sheriff she was “going home soon. I learned my lesson.”
Of the inmates, Smith said: “These are sons and daughters of people from Putnam County who made a mistake. Some may be incorrigible, but the greater numbers will become lawabiding, taxpaying residents. “A word of encouragement and wishing them well goes a long way,” he added. “This is the spirit of Christmas.”
The inmates were given a special holiday meal on Christmas night, including pie and ice cream for dessert.