Usually, background checks, drug screens and physicals are administered to prospective jailers. Polygraphs also are used to determine a person’s honesty, he said.

“We were in between polygraphers when we hired her, but she had no kind of a record,” Whittington said.

The investigation will continue by the CCSO and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the sheriff said. Charges have yet to come against McClendon, and he has yet to be interviewed in this case.

“We’ve still got a long way to go on this,” Hart said.

“There’s an active investigation proceeding forth at this time by us and the GBI, but this is something we were not going to hold off on until an investigation is concluded, because the public needs to know,” Whittington said.

The remaining correctional staff has been briefed on the case and are instructed to be extra vigilant against escape or contraband, especially during the holidays, Cox said.

“Nothing in her defense, but inmates are very manipulative. They spend 24 hours a day trying to figure out a way to manipulate you, and he’s sort of one to do it,” he said.

“We’re all still human beings,” Whittington said. “An officer is a human being. These inmates are human beings, but we have urged all the other employees to not let these individuals ruin their careers or their lives, because one foolish mistake will certainly do both.”