By Steve Browne
Valley City Times-Record

    Barnes County Sheriff Gene Bjerke met with the Times-Record to discuss improvements in jail policy and procedures over the past year.
    Bjerke said that the log book has been computerized and keeps track of who has checked in and out, and the policy manual was updated last year, and again last week.
    The video system, which figured in the recent lawsuit against Barnes County by a former inmate, was upgraded just prior to Bjerke taking office in January 2007.
    According to Bjerke, personnel training and background checks are now more thorough. Potential hires are fingerprinted and vetted with background checks through the state and FBI, before being trained and familiarized with the manual of procedures.
    Bjerke acknowledged that they are still short-handed by one female jailer.

For full story, see Wednesday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.