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He spent his time in jail working with inmates on a daily basis. Employees worked under him as well, as he was the captain of the Corrections Division of Champaign County. Jim Young, 48, retired from the job Friday, Nov. 2 after working within the Corrections Division for 25 years and having the title of captain for 12 years.
“It’s kind of like a double-edge sword,” he said. “You’re going to miss a lot of great people ... and the challenges of this job were day-to-day here problem-solving or putting out fires ... 25 years in Corrections is a long time. It takes its toll on you.”
Although the job is stressful, according to Young, he is happy he stayed there for so long.
“I’ve attained all my goals,” he said. “I’ve been a corporal, I’ve been a sergeant, I’ve been an administrative lieutenant and I’ve been captain.”
Young’s former co-workers have a single emotion to express how they feel about his retirement — sad.
“He’s a good friend,” said Sheriff Dan Walsh. “It probably won’t be as much fun.”
Although Walsh and Young have been friends for about six years, Executive Secretary to the Sheriff Teresa Schleinz also relates to Young on a personal level.
“We’ve been together for a long time and we’re very good friends,” she said. “I’ll miss that day-to-day interaction.”
Because Young is only 48, he plans to begin a new career.
“My goal was to get out of corrections and be young enough to pursue a career in something more, because correctional work is just stressful,” Young said. “If you’re working with inmates, two jails, not enough staff, [it’s] just a [daily] battle.”
Champaign County is unusual because it holds two jails. The satellite jail opened in 1996 to relieve overcrowding; the goal is to eventually move the entire facility there, according to Young.
Although Young usually works within the jails, he has taught correctional courses at the University’s Police Training Institute since 1990.
“I do not know if I’ll get back into teaching, but it was a good experience for me,” he added.
When Young began his career with the Corrections Division in 1983 at age 23, he was promoted three times while he was attending the University. One of his goals within the next couple of years is to take another eight hours of credit to receive his bachelor’s degree.
“I was promoted so quickly I couldn’t go back to take class,” Young said.
Other goals include continuing in the correctional industry, which may involve consulting and sales. However, “right when you retire you kind of don’t want to stay in teaching or working in the field,” said Young. “You can draw money at 50 ... I’m 48 so I just need to get a job for a couple years, and that’s why I want to get out early to start a new career.”
A new career may involve one with Illinois Law Enforcement Answering System (ILEAS), with a grant given by Homeland Security.
“They’ve offered me a contract to work with them and get the old nursing home ready [in Champaign],” he said. “I already work with all the people so it was a kind of win-win situation.”
The county nursing home will be converted to offices and a training facility for SWAT teams. In terms of his overall career, Young’s openness to career opportunities is wide.
Whether Young teaches, works within the corrections industry or rises to a different career, the retiree plans to remain in the Champaign area.
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