Sequoyah County Jail Sees Dramatic Drop in Employee Turnover

Commissioners' efforts to raise salaries and improve working conditions have led to a significant decrease in the jail's high turnover rate.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:07am

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The Sequoyah County Jail in Oklahoma once had an astounding 84% employee turnover rate, with the county struggling to find and retain qualified staff. However, after county commissioners agreed to increase pay for jailers and improve working conditions, the turnover rate has dropped dramatically to less than 30%.

Why it matters

High employee turnover at county jails can lead to safety issues, lawsuits, and an unstable work environment. Sequoyah County's success in addressing this problem serves as a model for other rural counties facing similar challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified jail staff.

The details

Sequoyah County Undersheriff Charles House said the jail previously had to hire recent high school graduates with little to no training due to the difficulty in finding and keeping employees. This created an "uneasy feeling" for both new hires and inmates. To address the issue, the county commissioners agreed to earmark additional funding specifically for increasing jailers' pay. As a result, the turnover rate has dropped from 84% to less than 30%.

  • In a two-year period prior to the changes, the Sequoyah County Jail had an 84% employee turnover rate.
  • The commissioners approved the pay increases and other improvements in March 2026.

The players

Charles House

Sequoyah County Undersheriff who oversaw the high turnover rate at the jail and has seen significant improvements since the commissioners took action.

Larry Lane

Sequoyah County Sheriff who worked with Undersheriff House and the county commissioners to address the staffing challenges at the jail.

Jim Rogers

District 3 Commissioner for Sequoyah County who was involved in the efforts to increase pay and improve conditions for jail employees.

Ray Watts

District 1 Commissioner for Sequoyah County who worked with his fellow commissioners to address the staffing issues at the county jail.

Beau Burlison

District 2 Commissioner for Sequoyah County who participated in the initiatives to reduce employee turnover at the Sequoyah County Jail.

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What they’re saying

“There's some good young people out there, I don't want that to sound bad, but when you turn a 19-year-old — I'm going to say child — into our jail facility and you're surrounded by 60 men who are in there for whatever reason, career criminals, it's an uneasy feeling. It's a little bit nerve wracking at first — it was for me, even as an older person.”

— Charles House, Sequoyah County Undersheriff

“What we did as a board, we agreed to give them more money, but we want them to earmark it for jailers' pay. And when we did that, that took our 84% turnover ratio down to 20% to 30% turnover.”

— Jim Rogers, District 3 Commissioner, Sequoyah County

What’s next

The county commissioners plan to continue monitoring the jail's staffing and working to maintain the improved employee retention rates.

The takeaway

Sequoyah County's success in addressing its jail staffing crisis through increased pay and improved working conditions serves as a model for other rural counties facing similar challenges. By prioritizing the needs of jail employees, the county has created a more stable and secure environment for both staff and inmates.