NORTHAMPTON — The Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction was almost like a second home early in the life of Democratic sheriff candidate Melissa E. Perry.
Perry, 53, recalled in an an interview with the Gazette that almost daily she was coming and going from the jail where her parents were correctional officers and her grandfather, John F. Boyle, was sheriff from 1962 to 1984,
Perry, a registered nurse, who now works as the director of behavioral health nursing at Holyoke Medical Center, said her passion for criminal justice was sparked at an early age.
She said her first, and only, real experience working at the jail lasted just a few months as an intern in 1984, ending when her grandfather died .
Just before that, Perry received her criminal justice degree from Westfield State University. In 1985, she said, she completed an additional class in order to earn a second degree in psychology.
Perry, of 85 Woodmont Road in Northampton, is one of three Deocrats on Thursday’s primary ballot seeking to succeed Robert J. Garvey who is not seeking re-election after 32 years as sheriff.
Perry said one of her priorities if elected is to evaluate programs offered to inmates and explore new ways to expand them. She is also concerned about how to reduce recidivism among inmates who are released, Perry said.
Perry has said in forums that while she is not entirely familiar with the current structure of staff at the jail, she would take a close look at morale-building.
Perry also said she would want her own leadership, as well as the leadership skills of supervisors she employs, to be more regularly evaluated by staffers.
She points to her experience managing a staff of more than 100 nurses, clinicians and social workers at Holyoke Medical Center.
During the campaign, Perry has consistently referred to her expertise in substance abuse and mental health treatment. She said that voters have responded enthusiastically to her commitment to these issues.
“I will tell you, when I got back from (a recent debate), I got bombarded with phone calls and texts,” Perry said.
But, critics have wondered, is her experience too narrow to be sheriff?
“Absolutely not,” Perry contended. “I have a very, very solid base,” she added, citing “excellent” interpersonal and leadership skills.
The question, she said, has come up “quite a bit.”
“Why do you think you can do this?” people have asked her, she said.
Perry said her frequent exposure to the jail facility growing up, coming from a family of correction officials and her background in behavioral health treatment make her the right person for the job.
“With the rise of mental health issues and substance abuse issues in the jails,” she said, “I think I would be able to make a powerful impact.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.