CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. () – It has been a little over a month since the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office reinstated jail visitations and Sheriff Richard Coleman said it has been a smooth transition.

Coleman said one of the reasons he reinstated the jail visitation program was so that families separated by incarceration could reconnect. He said allowing face-to-face visits with loved ones after a decade is a decision that has earned him an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from the community.

“People have written letters,” Coleman said. “People have sent me personal messages thanking me for the in-person visitation. Everywhere I go in the county, I may get 30 to 40 thank-yous a day, just off the in-person visitation alone.”

was told nearly 40 families visit the jail each week. Coleman mentioned because of this, he is already noticing an improvement in inmate morale.

“It does nothing but help the overall conditions of your jail when people know that they had the opportunity to see their loved ones and they conform to the rules of your jail because they don’t want the possibilities of not being able to see their loved ones to be taken from them,” he said.

Coleman described the reboot as a smooth transition, with plans to begin phase two and open visitation to another unit in the coming months.

“What we try to do is not hinder inmates from allowing them to see their loved ones,” said Coleman. “What we’re trying to do essentially is to allow others who are in other housing units at the jail to come to these units so they may receive visitation as well.”

He added, “We’re very comfortable where we’re at and we’re very comfortable in the position that we’re in moving forward.”

Visitations are Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Coleman said adding more days throughout the week is on the table.