Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey has been serving as Hamilton County Sheriff and is looking to be re-elected. Since beginning her tenure as Sheriff in 2021 she has advanced the professionalism of the department, ensured fiscal responsibility, improved the infrastructure of the Justice Center, increased efficiencies through improved technology, and has focused on training opportunities and wellness programs for the staff.  

Sheriff McGuffey’s career in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office makes her a qualified person to continue her work. Sheriff McGuffey is a 36-year veteran of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, beginning her career as a jail service deputy. Over time, she rose to sergeant, then lieutenant captain of the Training Academy, and eventually achieved the rank of major in command of Jail and Court Services before her election as Hamilton County Sheriff. During her tenure as commander of Jail and Court services, she led the effort to improve the Hamilton County Justice Center from its ranking as worst in the state to the best of large jails in Ohio. Furthermore, she was named local and regional “Law Enforcement Office of the Year,” was honored by the Ohio House of Representatives for being named the 2016 Public Citizen of the Year by the Ohio Chapter of NASW and was also included in the 2013 Cincinnati Enquirer’s list of “Professional Women to Watch.” Sheriff McGuffey also served as the lead hostage negotiator for the Sheriff’s Special Response Team, and the captain of the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard. Finally, she also served as the academy commander for the Ohio Peace Officer Corrections Academy and is an accomplished self-defense instructor.  

The Matriots are proud to endorse Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey for re-election as Hamilton County Sheriff, so that she can continue her mission and work. Sheriff McGuffey knows jail reform is needed, believing in rehabilitative strategies as opposed to punitive ones to give those released a chance at a successful life. During her time in office, she formed a committee that collaborated with social service agencies through Hamilton County tallow targeted engagement with those incarcerated, created a Veteran’s program to bring services and treatment to veterans who have served the community, created a specialized pod with Hamilton County Re-Entry, to provide life skills for incarcerated men who are nearing their release date, and a recovery pod with a focus on treatment and community services for heroin addicted women. The Matriots are proud of all that Sheriff McGuffey has accomplished and can’t wait to see what she does in the future.