Seminar Title
Jail/Correction Liability, Risk Management and Legal Issues Conference
Dates of Events
04/06/2027 through 04/08/2027
Last Updated: 08/06/2026
Instructor(s): Tracey Reed, Jeffrey Carter, Lisa Farmer
Location: Tarrant County Sheriff's Academy - 1500 Circle Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76119
Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Cityview - 6400 Overton Ridge Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76132
Hotel: Hampton Inn Fort Worth Cityview - 4799 S W Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76132
Course Registration Fee: $450
Instructor Bio
Tracey Reed
Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky Department of Corrections, Jail Standards (Retired) Louisville, Kentucky
Ms. Reed has over a quarter century of total corrections experience. A graduate of Brescia University (BA-Psychology), Ms. Reed is a veteran in the field of corrections, having served the Kentucky Department of Corrections as a Senior Probation and Parole Officer, as well as KDOC’s first female jail consultant. Since retiring from the KY Dept. of Corrections in 2013, Ms. Reed has served as an Independent Jail Consult-ant for the Kentucky Association of Counties. She routinely develops and provides training for elected jailer sand their staff in critical areas of operations, to help KACO’s clients improve safety and security for those incarcerated in county jails, while also helping reduce liability for individual jail staff members and the county agencies that employ them. In addition, Ms. Reed serves as a member of the Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute’s advisory board, conducting audits for jails, providing training for correctional officers across the United States, and serving as an expert witness for litigants in the areas of intake screening, suicides, mental health, classification, detoxification, and policy and procedures. Ms. Reed’s expertise includes interpreting state and federal regulatory standards governing jail operations, construction and renovation, as well as conducting investigations into critical incidents. Ms. Reed resides in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jeffrey Carter
Jeff Carter, Deputy Director (Retired) Fayette County Detention Center Adult Facility Lexington, Kentucky
Jeff Carter retired December 2018 as the Deputy Director of the Fayette County Detention Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Over his 20-year career, he has worked all levels of custody inside a 1300 bed correctional facility located in the horse racing capitol of he world. Jeff was an instructor for 5 years inside the academy where he trained over 700 recruits, molding them into successful leaders in the Corrections field. He’s trained and commanded the CERT team, as well as, taught Drill and Ceremony to the Division Honor guard. While promoting through the ranks he commanded the Professional Standards Unit where he specialized in Internal Affairs investigations and Gang Intel for 7 years. Jeff completed over 200 administrative investigations, as well as, conducted over 100 PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) investigations. He is well versed in PREA and is a PREA Investigator Instructor. Jeff has completed the top Leadership Academies at the National Institute of Corrections in Aurora, Colorado. He brings experience from proudly serving 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, followed by obtaining his BS degree in Correction’s and Juvenile Services/Political Science from Eastern Kentucky University, through his career as a Corrections Leader. Jeff was a Certified Deputy Coroner within the Commonwealth of Kentucky for 8 years. He presents jail training throughout the country and serves as an Expert Witness around the United States focusing on jail litigation.
Lisa Farmer
Lisa Farmer, Director (retired)
Fayette County Detention Center Adult Facility. Lexington, Kentucky
Lisa Farmer retired in October 2022 and the Director of Fayette County Detention Center in Lexington, KY. Fayette County Detention Center is a Direct Supervision 1260 facility bed, with a staff of 358. She worked in many areas of the jail including the Classification Department. While promoting up the ranks, she was a Sergeant in Professional Standards for 7 years which included Internal Affairs investigations and starting the Gang Intel Unit. As she continued to promote up thru the ranks, she was a commander over the Custody Bureau. In March 2014, Lisa completed the National Jail Academy Leadership Command Academy in Sam Houston, TX and was the first to receive the CJM certification at Fayette County Detention Center in November 2014. Lisa was an adjunct instructor for training and recruit academy classes covering topics of gangs and Internal Affairs. Lisa completed her BS degree in Corrections and Juvenile Services from Eastern Kentucky University in 2001 and then followed up with her MS degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in 2004, while working at the detention center.
Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky Department of Corrections, Jail Standards (Retired) Louisville, Kentucky
Ms. Reed has over a quarter century of total corrections experience. A graduate of Brescia University (BA-Psychology), Ms. Reed is a veteran in the field of corrections, having served the Kentucky Department of Corrections as a Senior Probation and Parole Officer, as well as KDOC’s first female jail consultant. Since retiring from the KY Dept. of Corrections in 2013, Ms. Reed has served as an Independent Jail Consult-ant for the Kentucky Association of Counties. She routinely develops and provides training for elected jailer sand their staff in critical areas of operations, to help KACO’s clients improve safety and security for those incarcerated in county jails, while also helping reduce liability for individual jail staff members and the county agencies that employ them. In addition, Ms. Reed serves as a member of the Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute’s advisory board, conducting audits for jails, providing training for correctional officers across the United States, and serving as an expert witness for litigants in the areas of intake screening, suicides, mental health, classification, detoxification, and policy and procedures. Ms. Reed’s expertise includes interpreting state and federal regulatory standards governing jail operations, construction and renovation, as well as conducting investigations into critical incidents. Ms. Reed resides in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jeffrey Carter
Jeff Carter, Deputy Director (Retired) Fayette County Detention Center Adult Facility Lexington, Kentucky
Jeff Carter retired December 2018 as the Deputy Director of the Fayette County Detention Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Over his 20-year career, he has worked all levels of custody inside a 1300 bed correctional facility located in the horse racing capitol of he world. Jeff was an instructor for 5 years inside the academy where he trained over 700 recruits, molding them into successful leaders in the Corrections field. He’s trained and commanded the CERT team, as well as, taught Drill and Ceremony to the Division Honor guard. While promoting through the ranks he commanded the Professional Standards Unit where he specialized in Internal Affairs investigations and Gang Intel for 7 years. Jeff completed over 200 administrative investigations, as well as, conducted over 100 PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) investigations. He is well versed in PREA and is a PREA Investigator Instructor. Jeff has completed the top Leadership Academies at the National Institute of Corrections in Aurora, Colorado. He brings experience from proudly serving 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, followed by obtaining his BS degree in Correction’s and Juvenile Services/Political Science from Eastern Kentucky University, through his career as a Corrections Leader. Jeff was a Certified Deputy Coroner within the Commonwealth of Kentucky for 8 years. He presents jail training throughout the country and serves as an Expert Witness around the United States focusing on jail litigation.
Lisa Farmer
Lisa Farmer, Director (retired)
Fayette County Detention Center Adult Facility. Lexington, Kentucky
Lisa Farmer retired in October 2022 and the Director of Fayette County Detention Center in Lexington, KY. Fayette County Detention Center is a Direct Supervision 1260 facility bed, with a staff of 358. She worked in many areas of the jail including the Classification Department. While promoting up the ranks, she was a Sergeant in Professional Standards for 7 years which included Internal Affairs investigations and starting the Gang Intel Unit. As she continued to promote up thru the ranks, she was a commander over the Custody Bureau. In March 2014, Lisa completed the National Jail Academy Leadership Command Academy in Sam Houston, TX and was the first to receive the CJM certification at Fayette County Detention Center in November 2014. Lisa was an adjunct instructor for training and recruit academy classes covering topics of gangs and Internal Affairs. Lisa completed her BS degree in Corrections and Juvenile Services from Eastern Kentucky University in 2001 and then followed up with her MS degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in 2004, while working at the detention center.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
Jail/Correction Liability, Risk Management and Legal Issues Conference
“Why Are We Getting Sued”
What are the liabilities?” Why we are losing law suits?
• Snohomish County settles jail death lawsuit for $2.4 million.
• Former Allegheny County jail inmate settles lawsuit over loss of a baby.
• Sandra Bland’s family settle case for $1.9M; agreement includes policy changes for Texas jail.
• County settles jail meth death for $2.3 million.
• Pennsylvania
A federal jury hit a prison health care provider and associated medical staff with a combined $11.9 million verdict after they were found to have not properly addressed the psychiatric needs of an inmate who killed himself. The verdict broke down into roughly $1 million for deliberate indifference and $2.8 million for medical negligence against all defendants. The verdict also issued $8 million in punitive damages directed solely by medical provider.
Overview of Jail Liability
While Jail/Correction officers may believe that they will be exposed to liability for all of their actions, both proper and improper, the fact of the matter is that most courts have avoided second guessing police actions and have only sanctioned the most egregious conduct. There are various levels of liability that may exist when a jailers actions are deemed improper.
Civil Actions
Intentional Torts: The Plaintiff must suffer as a result of the breach of duty.
Federal Lawsuits
When a federal lawsuit is filed under §1983 for violations of federal rights there is no vicarious or respondent superior liability. In such a case, in order to get the agency on the hook as a defendant, the plaintiff has to prove that the agency did something wrong that led the officer to act in the manner that he or she did.
Violations of Civil Rights—42 U.S.C. sec. 1983. This type of lawsuit is the type that most jails often face.
Pattern and Practice Lawsuit
Under USC §14141 it is unlawful for a Jail/Correction agency to allow its members to participate in a pattern and practice of violating civil rights.
Understanding Judgment and Qualified Immunity in the Defense
of Jail/Correction Officers
Summary Judgment: Even if the person bringing the lawsuit story is taken as true there was no violation of the Constitution.
Qualified Immunity: Even if the person bringing the lawsuit story is taken as true and there was a violation of the Constitution, the law was not clearly established at the time the jail officer acted.
“Why Are We Getting Sued”
What are the liabilities?” Why we are losing law suits?
• Snohomish County settles jail death lawsuit for $2.4 million.
• Former Allegheny County jail inmate settles lawsuit over loss of a baby.
• Sandra Bland’s family settle case for $1.9M; agreement includes policy changes for Texas jail.
• County settles jail meth death for $2.3 million.
• Pennsylvania
A federal jury hit a prison health care provider and associated medical staff with a combined $11.9 million verdict after they were found to have not properly addressed the psychiatric needs of an inmate who killed himself. The verdict broke down into roughly $1 million for deliberate indifference and $2.8 million for medical negligence against all defendants. The verdict also issued $8 million in punitive damages directed solely by medical provider.
Overview of Jail Liability
While Jail/Correction officers may believe that they will be exposed to liability for all of their actions, both proper and improper, the fact of the matter is that most courts have avoided second guessing police actions and have only sanctioned the most egregious conduct. There are various levels of liability that may exist when a jailers actions are deemed improper.
Civil Actions
Intentional Torts: The Plaintiff must suffer as a result of the breach of duty.
Federal Lawsuits
When a federal lawsuit is filed under §1983 for violations of federal rights there is no vicarious or respondent superior liability. In such a case, in order to get the agency on the hook as a defendant, the plaintiff has to prove that the agency did something wrong that led the officer to act in the manner that he or she did.
Violations of Civil Rights—42 U.S.C. sec. 1983. This type of lawsuit is the type that most jails often face.
Pattern and Practice Lawsuit
Under USC §14141 it is unlawful for a Jail/Correction agency to allow its members to participate in a pattern and practice of violating civil rights.
Understanding Judgment and Qualified Immunity in the Defense
of Jail/Correction Officers
Summary Judgment: Even if the person bringing the lawsuit story is taken as true there was no violation of the Constitution.
Qualified Immunity: Even if the person bringing the lawsuit story is taken as true and there was a violation of the Constitution, the law was not clearly established at the time the jail officer acted.