09/01/2026
Citizens of Trempealeau County,
Subject: Response to inaccurate statements regarding the Trempealeau County Jail
Nationwide, corrections officer turnover is among the highest in public safety, often exceeding 30% annually, due to demanding working conditions, chronic understaffing, and industry-wide recruitment challenges (American Jail Association). The Trempealeau County Jail is not immune to these national trends. However, we are actively working to improve our hiring and retention efforts for this vital role.
While our law enforcement officers do a tremendous job keeping our community safe, they do have to make arrests and bring those people to jail. Once individuals are brought to jail, they are under our care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because this work happens behind closed doors, the general public rarely sees or fully appreciates the immense dedication and hard work of our correction officers.
The reality of the role is complex and demanding. Correction professionals face daily exposure to volatile situations, high stress, and inmates dealing with severe medical or mental health crises. Correction Officers are routinely outnumbered, operating with limited physical resources, and must rely heavily on their de-escalation skills rather than fi****ms to maintain order. This environment creates a level of constant alertness and emotional strain that heavily contributes to industry-wide burnout.
While we are currently understaffed, we are making steady progress in hiring for our open positions. Unfortunately, inaccurate and untrue statements made at recent public gatherings and in recorded interviews actively harm these efforts, making it harder for us to recruit and retain high-quality staff.
Additionally, misinformation regarding our facility’s capacity must be corrected. Our jail was architecturally designed to hold more inmates than it currently houses. While we do board inmates from neighboring counties, our current equipment, classification limits, and staffing levels dictate how many individuals we can safely accept at this time. Expanding to full capacity requires a strategic, phased investment in additional staff and equipment, and those plans are already in development.
Our operations remain highly compliant and safe. The State of Wisconsin Inspector (Office of Detention Facilities) conducts periodic inspections of our facility, and we have passed our recent inspections with zero violations. In the most recent report, the inspector noted that our operational procedures are clearly defined and well-documented. He also highlighted that our staff is a professional, knowledgeable, and engaged, and that our physical environment reflects a high standard of maintenance that protects the wellbeing of both staff and inmates.
I am incredibly proud of the work our jail staff and leadership perform every single day. By strictly following laws and policies, they keep our facility safe and protect Trempealeau County taxpayers from costly litigation. In fact, during my tenure as Jail Captain, we have maintained a record of zero loss of life, zero major injuries, and zero damages paid from inmate lawsuits.
Our Correction Officers perform an essential public service under difficult circumstances. If you know a corrections officer or see one in the community, please take a moment to thank them for their service.
Sincerely,
Captain Joan Koval
Trempealeau County Jail
