Policy Text
Merced County Sheriff's Office
Corrections Policy
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide responsive, professional, and caring law enforcement services to all the
people of Merced County. We will respond to calls for service promptly, protect lives and property
to the very best of our abilities, initiate and maintain crime prevention programs, and apprehend
criminal offenders.
We will maintain correctional facilities and operate correctional programs in the most efficient and
effective manner possible. We will be diligent in our role as Coroners to protect the rights and
dignity of those who can no longer speak for themselves.
As Merced County Sheriff/Coroner employees, we will always conform to the high standards
expected by the public, by being fair, compassionate, unbiased, and in conformance with the "Law
Enforcement Code of Ethics."
Sheriff-Coroner Vernon H. Warnke
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Merced County Sheriff's OfficeMission Statement - 1
Merced County Sheriff's Office
Corrections Policy
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau provides reasonable detention services
in a safe, secure, and humane environment.
Philosophy:
The Merced County Corrections Bureau is established in accordance with applicable statutes and
regulations. Our facilities are charged with the goal of aiding public safety through the provision
of professionally managed corrections services.
The Merced County Corrections Bureau, within the constraints of available resources, offer a
practical range of correctional options, including incarceration, Alternative Sentencing Programs,
and other similar programs, that reasonably serve the needs of the community as well as the
individual inmate. Where reasonably possible the Merced County Corrections Bureau enhances
the offender's ability to return to the community and live in a law-abiding manner. The Merced
County Corrections Bureau administers its programs in an equitable, least restrictive environment
consistent with public safety and good order.
The Merced County Corrections Bureau operates under the principle that all administrative and
management decisions either directly or indirectly affect security, safety, and treatment goals of
the facility. In this connection, facility staff often serves as important and productive role models for
inmates, conveying mainstream societal values to the inmate population. Throughout the course
of a day, opportunities for controlled interaction between staff and inmates provide a means to
influence and reinforce appropriate inmate behavior. Employees are expected to interact, where
reasonably possible, with inmates in a manner consistent with the objectives of our facilities.
Goals:
The Merced County Corrections Bureau has as its prime goal the operation of a safe, humane,
and cost effective facility that provides a place of confinement, punishment, and an opportunity
for reflective thought and positive change.
Specifically, within facility security and budget constraints, The Corrections Bureau will operate
an integrated system of correctional services that reasonably:
1. Protect society by preventing escape from custody through the use of physical, procedural, and
managerial safeguards;
2. Maintain an inmate classification plan for housing, work, and other facility assignments;
3. Provide clean, safe, and healthy living conditions for inmates;
4. Provide basic medical, dental, and psychiatric needs of inmates;
5. Provide opportunities for reflective thought, that can lead to positive personal change;
6. Provide work programs for qualified inmates;
7. Provide safeguards that protects inmates from physical and psychological victimization;
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Merced County Sheriff's OfficePhilosophy and Goals - 2
Corrections Policy
Philosophy and Goals
8. Provide necessary due process and other legal safeguards;
9. Provide appropriate opportunities for religious practices.
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Merced County Sheriff's OfficePhilosophy and Goals - 3
Merced County Sheriff's Office
Corrections Policy
CODE OF ETHICS
My fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the
innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against
violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does
not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger,
scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest
in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law
and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is
confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in
the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations,
animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime, I will enforce
the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing
unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to
be held so long as I am true to the ethics of criminal justice service. I will never engage in acts of
corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other officers. I will cooperate with all legally
authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.
I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take
every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence