Employees who take extra steps to get to know their customers deserve praise. Now, an Illinois sheriff has raised the bar (or bars?) on getting to know customers.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran has gone to jail — because he wants to.

He’s talking to inmates so he can find out what they think of the county lock-up.

Curran said he’s also drawing attention to jails’ overpopulation issues, including the number of mentally ill, uneducated and repeat offenders. His suggestion: More rehabilitation.

So far Curran has met several inmates, and not all of them knew he’s the sheriff, according to local media reports.

Unlike other inmates, Curran gets to leave jail when he wants: Aug. 27.

Tags: customers, jail, sheriff