Vanessa Griffin, 28 From raising kids to overseeing jail operations By Autumn Owens
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t. Vanessa Griffin has an interesting career as the Erath County Jail administrator. She began working at the jail six years ago as part of the night shift. Prior to that, she managed a restaurant. “I was a single mom and needed something with insurance and set hours, so I started on night shift for a while and then there was a position opening for the corporal position on day shift,” she said. “I worked in that position for about four years and that’s where I learned everything — criminal reporting, court, you name it.” When Matt Coates was appointed
sheriff and some things shifted at the Erath County Sheriff’s Office, Vanessa was hired as the jail administrator. “I really care about the jail a lot. It’s something that I’ve put a lot of time into,” she said. “I have to make sure every person here is treated equally and fairly and make sure everything passes jail standards. We have a medical staff that works inside the jail, so I make sure they are here and doing their job.” Vanessa attended Weatherford College and she and her husband of four years, Uel Griffin, have four children — Luke, 14, Bayli, 9, Jordyn, 7 and Liam, 3. And when they’re not working, Vanessa and Uel spend their time coaching their children’s sports. “The criminal justice system is so
ERATH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS PROUD TO HAVE SGT. KENT HOWELL ON OUR TEAM!
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Vanessa Griffin is the Erath County jail administrator, a mom and coach. interesting because in the jail, it’s just you and them and you either have the mentality for the job or you don’t,” she said. “I really like being here.” Vanessa hopes to go back to college and earn a degree in forensics.
VANESSA GRIFFIN JAIL LIEUTENANT PROTECTING ERATH COUNTY CITIZENS FROM 1896
Erath County Sheriff’s Office
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“I’ve always been interested in law enforcement and helping in some way,” she said.
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1043 Glen Rose Hwy • Stephenville, TX 76401 254-965-3338 • WWW.CO.ERATH.TX.US/SHERIFF.HTML