65°
The Hampshire Sheriff’s Office runs the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office Jail and House of Correction in Northampton.
On Aug. 2, the Sherriff’s Office began implementing a WorkShare program for77 of its full-time employees from the medical, kitchen, maintenance, education, treatment, and administration units in addition to captains and lieutenants, Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane said.
The furloughs will last 12 days and are voluntary. Given the uncertainty of the state’s budget, the hope is that by taking unpaid furloughs, the department will be able to avoid making layoffs, Cahillane said.
The furloughs will be taken now through Oct. 24 and are being staggered to prevent declining services. Negotiations with the Correctional Officers and Sergeants Union regarding voluntary furloughs are ongoing.
“I want to personally express to every member of my staff my deepest gratitude for their continued devotion to duty during these difficult and unprecedented times,” Cahillane said. “We have a duty to protect the health and well-being of our men and our communities. We will not shirk that responsibility.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice Amherst and receive free news updates.
