The National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) proudly reports the success of our 26th JAILCON at the JAILCON26 Southern Regional Conference, held at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
This year’s JAILCON26 Southern Regional Conference marked an exciting milestone as the conference made its debut in Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 13–15, 2026! The conference sold out, welcoming more than 400 corrections professionals from 18 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. More than 150 representatives from corrections vendors also participated, showcasing products and services designed to support correctional facilities.
The conference featured three days of legal-based training, nationally recognized keynote speaker Paul Butler, valuable networking opportunities, and the Corrections Professionals Awards Ceremony, celebrating excellence, leadership, and dedication within the profession. The tremendous turnout demonstrated the continued demand for practical, legally grounded training and resources to help correctional facilities operate more safely and effectively. We are grateful to everyone who helped make JAILCON’s first Chattanooga conference such a success and look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead!
DAY 1 - October 13, 2026
Each JAILCON conference begins with a traditional Opening Session that honors the men and women who serve in corrections and sets the tone for the days ahead. At JAILCON26 Southern in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we were honored to have the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard present the colors. Local musician Candace Perkins performed the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by NIJO Executive Director Tate McCotter.
The Opening Session also featured welcoming remarks from Host Sheriff Austin Garrett of Hamilton County, Tennessee; Sheriff Joshua MacLaughlin of Limestone County, Alabama; Sheriff Carlton Speed of Banks County, Georgia; and NIJO Executive Director Tate McCotter. Their remarks welcomed attendees and highlighted the importance of continued learning, collaboration, and commitment to excellence in the corrections profession.
Throughout the conference, participants attended four 90-minute breakout training sessions, choosing from five topics during each session. Led by experienced corrections professionals and subject-matter experts from across the country, the sessions addressed challenges facing agencies at every level, from sheriffs and jail administrators to frontline staff. Topics included Segregation with Purpose, Issues When Withholding Medical Access, Managing Gangs Without Getting Sued, and Conditions of Confinement: How to Improve Your Facility Using Case Law. Each session provided practical, legally grounded insights to help agencies strengthen operations, reduce liability, and create safer correctional environments.
Following the first day’s training, attendees and exhibitors gathered for the Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall. The evening provided an opportunity to build relationships, connect with industry partners, and continue conversations sparked during the day’s sessions. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and live music by local musician David Payton. We extend our sincere appreciation to TEAM Software Solutions, powered by Kimble’s Corrections, for sponsoring the reception and helping make the evening a success.
DAY 2 - October 14, 2026
The second day of JAILCON is always a highlight as attendees gather to hear from our keynote speaker. We began the session with a brief message from our Keynote Session Sponsor, TEAM Software Solutions, powered by Kimble’s Corrections, and are grateful for their support in making this session possible.
This year, we were honored to welcome Paul Butler, an internationally renowned speaker with 27 years of law enforcement experience and a unique perspective on the challenges, choices, and circumstances people face every day.
Paul’s keynote focused on the different roles people play within a team: team leaders, team builders, and teammates. Each role contributes to the success of an organization, but Paul also challenged attendees to recognize a fourth category: trouble. His message was simple, direct, and powerful: If you’re causing trouble, stop it. If you’re in trouble, reach out. His message served as a reminder that every individual has a role in shaping workplace culture, strengthening teams, and creating an environment where people can succeed together.
Following the Keynote Session, attendees had the opportunity to connect with vendors and explore our sold out Exhibit Hall, which featured 89 corrections-specific exhibitors in attendance.
Attendees also had the chance to meet Paul Butler during a special meet-and-greet, providing an opportunity to continue conversations sparked by his keynote message. The Exhibit Hall is an important part of JAILCON, connecting corrections professionals with innovative products, services, and resources to support their agencies. We extend our sincere appreciation to all our exhibitors and, especially, our valued sponsors, whose continued support helps make JAILCON a success!
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., we experienced something we had never encountered before during a JAILCON conference: a power outage that presented unexpected challenges for the remainder of the day. Instructors adapted on the fly, teaching without their PowerPoint presentations or microphones, while attendees persevered through the lack of air conditioning and reduced lighting. We were incredibly impressed by the patience, flexibility, and positive attitudes shown by both our instructors and attendees as everyone worked together to make the best of an unexpected situation. We were certainly grateful the power stayed on long enough for everyone to enjoy the Exhibit Hall! Despite the power outage, the afternoon was spent in two more 90 minute training sessions with topics ranging from, Use of Force: Kingsley v. Graham, Hybrid Security Threat Group Gangs & Documentation in the South, Spice/K2: What is it? Understanding Synthetic Cannabinoids and their Impact, and a Legal Issues and Updates Panel featuring four attorneys and led by NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter.
One of the highlights of JAILCON26 Southern was our annual Corrections Appreciation Night, an evening dedicated to celebrating the hardworking men and women who serve in corrections. This year, we were excited to welcome The Blue Liners, a band made up entirely of law enforcement professionals, including Sheriff Ralston from neighboring Gordon County, Georgia. Attendees enjoyed live music, a photo booth, pool tables, cornhole, sliders, and ice cream.
Making this evening happen was especially meaningful given the challenges we faced with the power outage earlier in the day. With no power in the Convention Center ballroom, the Chattanooga Convention Center staff and the Chattanooga Marriott team came together to help us relocate the event to the Marriott’s ballroom. The hotel staff had to tear down a room that was already set for a group arriving the next day and completely reset it for our party. The catering team adapted by using the Marriott’s kitchen, while the hotel’s general manager and staff jumped in alongside our setup crew to get everything ready in time. It was an incredible example of teamwork, flexibility, and genuine partnership. Thanks to everyone’s willingness to step up and work together, we were able to pull off another fantastic evening despite the unexpected obstacles!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Legacy Commissary Services and Southern Health Partners for sponsoring this special event and helping us recognize and celebrate the corrections professionals who make a difference every day. We are equally grateful to the Chattanooga Convention Center and Chattanooga Marriott teams for going above and beyond to make the evening possible. Their support turned a challenging situation into a memorable night for everyone!
DAY 3 - October 15, 2026
The final day of JAILCON26 Southern featured three 75-minute training sessions, giving attendees additional opportunities to learn from experienced corrections professionals and explore practical strategies for addressing the challenges facing their agencies. Topics covered a wide range of issues, including Setting Realistic Goals: Purpose to Progress, Leadership in Limbo: Decision-Making During Organizational Uncertainty, Early Signs, Real Consequences: Managing Withdrawal Behind Bars, Documentation: Your First Line of Defense Against Lawsuits, Grievances, and Complaints, Basic Grant Writing Techniques for Leveraging Jail Resources, The Ripping Chain of Events from Inmate Manipulation to Gang Takeovers, and What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust.
We concluded the conference with our annual Corrections Professionals Awards Ceremony and Luncheon, recognizing outstanding individuals and agencies throughout the Southern Region for their dedication, leadership, and contributions to the corrections profession. The awards celebrated both career-long achievements and exceptional efforts made during the past year. Melissa Bjergo, NIJO Director of Partnerships and Agency Development, and NIJO Executive Director Tate McCotter presented the JAILCON26 awards on behalf of the National Institute for Jail Operations. [Read more about the awards and this year’s recipients here.]
