New law lets Oconee hired jail guards 18 and 19 years old
In 2022, the South Carolina General Assembly passed
a Criminal Justice Reform Bill, which was signed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
As part of the Legislation, the age at which a woman or man could be hired as a Detention
Officer was dropped from 21 years of age to 18 years of age.
The change in state law has allowed the Oconee County Detention Center to hire six men as
Detention Deputies:
Killian Young – 18 years old
Tyler Watson – 19 year old
Austin Goss – 19 years old – Basic Detention Graduate on February 20th, 2023
Caleb Collins and Nicholas Berkemeier – Both hired at 20 years of age
Basic Detention Graduates on January 13th, 2023
Ethan Karpiak – 19 years old
“The change in the age requirements for Detention Officer in a local jail was due in part to
increasing the applicant pool for prospective employees who are interested in a law enforcement
career,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “A woman or man who is 18 years of age,
with a high school diploma or GED, and who meets other job requirements, can begin work in
any jail or detention facility, including the Oconee County Detention Center. Our recent hire of
detention deputies under the age of 21 is an historic time for our County. These men become the
first in the history of our County to work in our jail prior to being 21 years of age.”
Under South Carolina law, a woman or man needs to be 21 years of age in order to work as a
police officer due to the fact that someone has to be 21 in order to carry or possess a handgun.
Since firearms are not allowed in a jail or detention facility, someone under 21 can work in this
area of law enforcement.
Oconee County Sheriff’s Office
Physical: 300 South Church St, Walhalla, SC 29691
Mailing: 415 South Pine St, Walhalla, SC 29691
Mike Crenshaw, Sheriff
“One thing that is unique about the Oconee County Detention Center is that we are one of the
few agencies in South Carolina that pays Detention Deputies the same pay rate as Deputy
Sheriff’s, says Sheriff Crenshaw.” The Detention Deputies play a vital role in keeping the jail
secure and safe.”
At the present time, newly hired Detention Deputies and Deputy Sheriffs are paid $40,000 a
year. Once certified by the South Carolina Criminal Academy, pay for both Detention Deputies
and Deputy Sheriff’s is raised to $41,500 a year. If someone is looking to begin a career in law
enforcement, especially those who are now 18, there has never been a better time to do so than
right now, according to Sheriff Crenshaw.
Anyone who is interested in applying for a position at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office can do
so online by clicking on this link: https://oconeesc.com/human-resources-home/job-opportunities.