GCSD Helps Inmates Gain Career Opportunities

Progress Edition

February 25, 2026

‍By Chandler Harmon, Staff Writer

The Giles County Sheriff’s Department is working with inmates to give them a better chance of reintegrating into the community.

The department has partnered with Ozone Environmental Services (OES) to provide inmates with basic hazmat, cleanup training and other skills while incarcerated, Sheriff Joe Purvis said, adding the program teaches participants how to properly handle and clean hazardous material spills, including fuel and other dangerous substances commonly involved in vehicle crashes and industrial incidents.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive state certification, the sheriff said, giving them a desired skill set upon release. The company providing the training has already hired some graduates and has committed to helping others find employment, he noted.

Launched in 2025 in partnership with Tennessee Workforce Group, the initiative began when program leaders approached jail administration about providing OSHA-regulated hazmat training to incarcerated individuals, OES Regional Manager Matt Church said, adding Giles is the first department to allow the program to operate inside its facility.

“This is more than just hazmat,” Church said. “It’s about life-making skills, accountability and giving people who made bad decisions a real second chance.”

Participants complete a 40-hour OSHA certification course that qualifies them for hazardous materials work nationwide. The certification is not limited to one company, meaning graduates can seek employment across the country, Church added. The current class, made up entirely of women, marks a significant milestone.

Hazmat and environmental response work is traditionally male-dominated, particularly in the private sector. Organizers say it is rare to see women performing day-to-day site work and emergency response, Church said.

Accomplishments

One of the department’s key accomplishments has been its focus toward stronger community involvement, Purvis said. Deputies have increased outreach efforts through Kid’s Place Child Advocacy Center and partnerships with local organizations, he noted, adding the department has also continued expanding jail programs aimed at addiction recovery and rehabilitation.

‍Goals

A major goal for the upcoming year is implementing OffenderWatch software, a nationwide database system designed to better monitor and manage registered sex offenders, Purvis shared.

“What it allows us to do is manage the roughly 46 sex offenders that live out in the county,” he explained. “So we can manage their movements, manage their compliance checks. It’s also an investigative tool.”

Purvis is planning to meet with neighboring counties to explore regional collaboration using the same system to share information.

“When a registered offender moves into the county from another jurisdiction, our deputies save countless hours researching and re-entering data because the offender record is seamlessly shared between agencies,” Purvis said. “OffenderWatch maintains a historical record of offender information, which supports our registry staff, investigators and deputies in working together more effectively. This allows our team to be more proactive in managing offenders and keeping our community informed and protected.”

By joining the program, GCSD gained access to a national information-sharing platform used by thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. The system provides real-time communication, improved tracking of offender movement and enhanced coordination between jurisdictions, helping agencies maintain accurate records and respond more quickly to changes in offender status, according to Purvis.

The OffenderWatch public website also provides community members with the ability to search for registered sex offenders in their area, submit tips directly to law enforcement and access important safety resources. Purvis added that the platform includes public safety and awareness information designed to help families better recognize potential risks and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their communities.

Another goal he highlighted is expanding a partnership with the FBI through the Safe Streets Task Force. Assigning a deputy to the federal task force would allow access to federal resources and to potentially pursue federal charges for repeat offenders, which carry stronger sentencing options.

Additionally, the department is increasing its emphasis on internal training for deputies and corrections officers to improve service quality and reduce liability.

Employees

The Sheriff’s Department currently has 45 deputies (including the sheriff), 31 corrections officers and three civilian employees.

Grants

Purvis highlighted multiple grant opportunities his department has utilized, including state funding to add an additional School Resource Officer (SRO) at the alternative school, Tennessee Highway Safety Office grant funding for DUI enforcement, traffic enforcement, radar units, in-car computers, multiple SRO positions (nine total) funded through grants, a grant-funded position supported by the Ingram Foundation and state cost-sharing grants that help offset the cost of training and equipping new academy graduates.

Improvements

The department is also increasing its focus on structured training across both patrol and corrections divisions. Leadership recently added positions dedicated to strengthening internal training efforts, the sheriff said.

“The better trained the deputies and corrections officers are, the better their ability is to serve the community and serve it right,” he stressed, noting better training directly improves service to the community while also reducing departmental liability.

Calls

Purvis said the Giles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a total of 10,847 calls for service Below is a snapshot of some of the activity and statistics from the year:

• Total arrests: 893 (792 adults, 101 juveniles)

• Drug-related arrests: 128

• Domestic violence–related calls: 177

• Death investigations: 48

• Mental health–related calls: 57

• Overdoses: 7

• Traffic stops: 2,196

• Civil process papers served: 3,151

• Uses of force: 76

• Total bookings into the Giles County Jail: 1,506

Commendations

Purvis is grateful for the committed, devoted group of men and women who staff his department.

“Giles County is fortunate to have a dedicated, professional group of people working at their sheriff’s office

who truly care about the community and its citizens,” he said.

He noted that deputies and corrections officers routinely handle difficult and often unseen situations with professionalism, pride and compassion.

“They work here because they want to serve their community,” Purvis said, adding that he is proud to work alongside them.

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