This past Tuesday, Knox County Sheriffs Office asked the Knox County Merit System Council to reduce the age from 21-18 for Correctional Officers.

Lysette Alves and Mike Ruble of Knox Sheriffs Department used the rationale they can go to the military and this is a cure to the lack of applicants.

Of course, no mention of the lack of retention since September 2018, BUT I digress.

A couple Merit Council members discussed the maturity level of a 18-21 year old and supervising pods of incarcerated inmates. Ultimately, the Merit Council approved reducing the age to 19.

NOW, look at this from Nashville’s Fox 17 out of Henry County, TN a 21 year old Corrections Officer now facing criminal charges for having sexual contact with an inmate in the jail cell.