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Dealing with Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in the correctional facility can cause a variety of problems from creating liability for the agency to jeopardizing the safety and security of staff. This program explores the kinds of ways sexual harassment can take place among staff members in the facility. Topics for discussion include the right to be free from sexual harassment, a legal definition of sexual harassment, verbal vs. non-verbal sexual harassment, who are the victims, third party victims, what victims must do, and more.
Containing Security Threat Groups
This program takes a look at how agencies can control gangs and other groups who can threaten the security of a correctional institution. The State of Ohio's intensive program to identify and contain security threat groups is highlighted. Discussions include Ohio's response to security threat groups, zero-tolerance policy, the role of the corrections officer, religious groups as a security threat, and more.
Balancing Medical Issues and Security Needs
For correctional facilities, there are always various security concerns whenever inmates need medical attention. This program shows how institutions can strike a balance between getting inmates the heath care they need while maintaining security at all times. Topics include the differences involved in medical vs. security needs and how it can be dealt with, the importance of some security training for medical staff, inmates with mental problems, dealing with inmates who fake illnesses, risks involved in transporting inmates to a hospital, sick inmates as security risks, and more.
Observing Universal Health Precautions
Because our facilities are such closed environments, Corrections staff must be aware of how diseases can spread – and spread quickly – if universal health precautions are not observed. This program stresses the need for ALL staff to be aware of how important it is to follow these precautions. Topics include various universal health precaution techniques, use of protective equipment, hand washing, exposure to body fluids, precautions to take during the intake process, what to do if you think you were exposed to something, OSHA guidelines, and more.
Communication vs. Over Familiarity
Good communication between inmates and staff is essential to the smooth running of the facility. But at what point do officers cross the line from communicating to being too friendly? That's the topic that is explored in depth is this program as officers are cautioned against a breakdown in their professional demeanor when dealing with inmates. Some of the issues explored in this video include sending the inmate the wrong message, the need to avoid casual touching, using the wrong body language, female officers wearing too much makeup or jewelry, etc., discussing personal business, showing favoritism, lax enforcement of the rules for "special" inmates, and more.
The Effects of Policy Changes
This program takes a look at the impact of policy changes in a correctional institution on staff and inmates. Failure to consider the impact of major policy changes (such as banning smoking) can lead to a rebellious attitude on the part of inmates. To illustrate the point, this program takes a look at how one facility dealt with the change from smoking to nonsmoking. Also discussed, changes in policy regarding what inmates can watch on cable TV.
Warning Signs of an Impending Disturbance
This program explains what factors will be present as warning signs if inmates should be planning to cause some type of disturbance. These warning signs are broken down into three categories: Inmates (changes in demeanor, deterring visitors, suspicious behavior, stockpiling supplies, etc.), Staff (rumors of problems, increase in write-ups, increase in staff sick-outs, etc.), and Conditions (bad food, overcrowding, major change in policy, lack of programs, etc.). The warning signs discussed here relate to a planned disturbance as opposed to a spontaneous one.
Conflict Resolution
This program gives corrections professionals a sense of how important it is to resolve any types of conflicts or disputes in the correctional environment. The topics for discussion here include the nature of conflict, resolving inmate/inmate conflicts; resolving staff/inmate conflicts, and resolving staff/staff conflicts such as jealousy, personal issues, labor-management strife, etc.
Tool and Key Control
This program stresses the importance of maintaining effective control over all security keys and maintenance tools that are used in the correctional environment. The discussion of key control focuses on systems of maintaining accountability for all keys at all times, control of keys on the officer's person, and common mistakes made in the area of key control. Tool control covers the most effective methods of controlling tools used to maintain the facility, the use of tools by inmate and civilian workers inside the secure area and some common mistakes in these areas.
Inmates Who Pose an Escape Risk
This program alerts staff to the types of inmates who are most likely to pose a threat of escape. The video stresses that it is the responsibility of ALL staff to help prevent escapes. The program states which inmates are automatically a primary escape risk, inmates who can become an escape risk for various reasons after they are incarcerated, the signs of a planned escape, and favorite times for an escape.
Escape Prevention
This program shows corrections professionals that the best way to assure that their facility is secure and not conducive to escape attempts is an acute awareness of the factors that can cause escape attempts and being aware of preventative techniques that will prevent any escape attempts. Discussions here include factors that aid in inmate escapes (complacency, overfamiliarity, predictability, etc.), factors which will prevent escape attempts (visibility, unpredictability in making rounds, formal counts, etc.), and more.
The Selection and Supervision of Inmate Workers
Inmate labor is an essential factor in the smooth running of any correctional operation. This program takes a look at which inmates should be allowed to perform certain tasks in the correctional facility, and which should not since the selection of inmate workers has a direct bearing on maintaining security in the institution. The program also deals with how these inmates should be supervised, both inside the secure area and outside of it.
Back to Basics
This program stresses to staff members the importance of following "the basics," the fundamentally correct procedures needed to maintain strict security in the correctional environment. This training is designed not only for the new officers, but also for veterans who can tend to get away from the basic fundamentals. Areas include: taking the count, pat searches, key control, officer awareness, times for extra caution, and more.
Maintaining a Professional Demeanor in the Workplace
This program stresses to all corrections staff the importance of looking and acting like a professional at all times while at work in the facility. Any staff member who acts in an unprofessional manner will never get the necessary respect from inmates or fellow staff to be effective in their job duties. Discussions include: appearance, professional conduct, job performance, attitude, communication skills, and off-duty professionalism.
Detecting Substance Abuse
The purpose of this program is to warn corrections staff about the dangers of substance abuse, both alcohol and other drugs, and to encourage those with a problem to seek help before it is too late. Discussions here include substance abuse in corrections, various warning signs of substance abuse, what if a coworker has a problem, effects of substance abuse on an employee's career, getting help before it's too late, and more.
Drug Awareness/Identification
This program demonstrates to corrections personnel the need to be able to identify various drugs, understand the symptoms of illegal drug use, and spot ways that these drugs can be smuggled into the institution. The program focuses on identifying the following drugs: marijuana, hashish, cocaine, crack, stimulants (such as amphetamines), various types of depressants, hallucinogens, and narcotics such as heroin, morphine, and opium. The program also focuses on inmate smuggling techniques, various drug concealment locations, and more.
Developing the Field Training Officer
Field Training Officers are an important element in the corrections training process, and this program gives potential FTOs an overview of the job. It is also useful as an informational guide for supervisors and administrators who may oversee FTOs and their selection from the ranks of Corrections Officers. Discussions here include who makes the best FTO, job responsibilities of the FTO, the relationship between the FTO and trainee, FTO job specifics and the evaluation process.
Developing the Field Training Officer (Pt. 2): Ethical Standards
The purpose of this program is to stress to the Field Training Officer how important it is to teach ethics to new Corrections Officers or trainees. Sometimes, this facet of the job is overlooked, but it should be given just as high a priority as any other aspect of Corrections training. The program deals with various aspects of teaching ethics and the consequences of the failure to do so.
Decision-making Scenarios for Corrections Officers
This program presents Corrections Officers with a series of situations designed to enhance their ability to make difficult decisions while carrying out their duties. These decisions range from a potential life-threatening situation to some of the more common situations found in a correctional facility to somewhere between the two extremes. This program is designed to stimulate classroom discussion after each scenario. Fifteen different decision-making situations are presented.
Decision-making Scenarios for Supervisors
The same as above only designed for supervisors to be discussed in a classroom setting after each scenario. Twelve different situations for the supervisor are presented.
Controlling Perimeter Security
The purpose of this program is to stress the importance of perimeter security as it pertains to the safe operation of the facility as a whole. To maintain the highest level of security in any institution, the perimeter must be safe from any potential threat that could disrupt the operation. The topics for discussion here include patrolling the perimeter, parking lot security, inmates who cross the perimeter, precautions during the delivery of goods from the outside, and screening professional visitors.
Perimeter/Control Room Security
This program takes a look at security issues as they relate to the facility's control room and perimeter. Any breach of access to the control room and perimeter areas could result in inmate escape, contraband being smuggled in, and just a general threat to the safety of all employees and inmates. Topics for discussion in this program include who should have access to the control room, control room function during emergency situations, following control room procedures, maintenance and operation of all control room equipment and the need for strict patrolling and frequent checks of all perimeter components, such as doors, ceilings, recreational yards, roof areas, garages, fences, and more.
Inmates' Rights and Responsibilities
The misguided perception that inmates don't have any rights can cause an agency a possible problem with liability. The purpose of this program is to spell out exactly what rights inmates do have so that Corrections staff are clear on this issue. It also covers what the inmate's responsibilities are while under incarceration. The topics for discussion here are what rights do inmates give up, rights vs. privileges, inmates’ guaranteed rights, and the various responsibilities that inmates must adhere to.
Techniques for Interview and Interrogation
This program gives assistance in basic training for any staff member who will take part in the interview or interrogation process. It is also useful for line staff as it gives them an overview as to how they can contribute to the process of questioning an inmate about a certain incident, etc. The main points of discussion in this program are interview vs. interrogation, the traits of a successful interviewer, interview and interrogation techniques, documentation, lies or the truth, and the role of the line officer.
Common Problems Faced by the Line Officer
The purpose of this program is to identify some of the most frequent problems that officers will have to deal with in the correctional environment. The program also addresses solutions to these problems and encourages a dialogue with the agency to find solutions to fit within the framework of your particular operation. Some of the problems discussed include not getting along with fellow staff, inconsistencies among different shifts and supervisors, the threat of inmate lawsuits, relieving stress, and more.
Evaluating the Performance of Correctional Staff
This program looks at the many facets of how the job performance of Corrections Officers is evaluated. The program is designed not only for supervisors and administrators but also for line staff to see what the criteria for judgment may be in most agencies. Topics for discussion here include factors used in evaluating employees, counseling the officer, probationary employees, the importance of documentation, and termination procedures.
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