EDITOR'S CORNER

Today's administrators have it tough. Prison populations continue to rise yet the funds needed to effectively manage a facility get tighter and tighter. All the while, legislators and the public continue to scrutinize the system and clamor for reform. It doesn't seem possible to manage all of this in a day let alone an entire career without getting off track and forgetting about what matters most, keeping facilities and communities safe. Guest writer Robert Hood thinks the best way to effectively lead through all of today's pressures is to stick to excelling at the basics. In this week's article he offers his thoughts and the most important fundamentals.
Jim

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FEATURED STORY

Back to the basics for effective leadership

By Robert Hood

Proactive approaches for all correctional environments

By 2011 one in every 178 U.S. residents will live in prison, according to a report entitled, Public Safety, Public Spending: Forecasting America’s Prison Population 2007-2011 prepared by The Pew Charitable Trusts Public Safety Performance Project. America will have more than 1.7 million men and women in prison, which could cost taxpayers as much as $27.5 billion over the next five years beyond what is currently spent on prisons. The challenge for prison officials is to operate facilities in a cost-effective manner without jeopardizing security and quality programs. Public accountability of correctional administrators will be at an historic level.

Regardless of the security level or mission, there are basic elements of effective prison leadership that will guide administrators through the upcoming years of enhanced scrutiny. Areas such as sanitation, inmate programs, security, key control, tool control, visibility, communications, responsiveness, staff training, inmate/staff accountability, teamwork, professionalism, policy knowledge and compliance, and completed staff work are described in the following manner: More

Have a story idea or article? Send them to editor@corrections.com.

READER FEEDBACK

Regarding Check it at the gate, avoid the burnout, 6/13/07

This article really hit home for me. As the wife of a 16 year CO veteran, we have been dealing with the psychological issues of the job since the day we married. In 2006, my husband was caught up in a race riot at his facility and was injured. Although the physical trauma has healed, the psychological trauma has not.

He has not been back inside the gate since that day, and does not intend ever to go back. This, too, is a source of distress, as he invested a big chunk of his life in that job and is now at loose ends. Very few individuals can do that job day after day and not be changed. The public is clueless, and the majority of mental health professionals are just as in the dark. No one, but no-one, can know what its like to put on that uniform unless they have done it, and done it daily for some length of time.
PD

I was a CO for seven years before moving into treatment with the Idaho Department of Corrections. I think Sgt. Evert hit the nail on the head. I could and still do relate to many of the issues that were brought up.
Warren Lanphier, Pre-Release Specialist SICI/PRC

Wonderful article, beautifully articulated. No matter what the work environment, mental health and well-being are the foundation of optimal performance and a positive atmosphere. Corrections staff in general and line staff in particular are the instrument through which the corrections mission is conducted and attained. From an organizational standpoint it is imperative that these instruments be kept sharp and clean and functional.

From an ethical standpoint taking care of your people should be non-negotiable. For staff to be able to "keep it together," a monthly inservice on stress management and related topics should be mandatory, accompanied by a one-on-one confidential debriefing session with a mental health provider or peer supporter.
Caterina G. Spinaris Tudor, Ph.D., LPC
Executive Director, Desert Waters Correctional Outreach

Thanks for your professional insight on this matter. I am guilty of not talking about things that happen at work because I am a female CO and most male friends I have say I should quit the job. I love the job I do and I have chosen this as my profession.
PA

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LOOKING AHEAD

Developing Stories Upcoming stories on Corrections.com and the Corrections Connection ezine Methods of attack Inmates' right to vote Identifying disruptive groups Tell us what you'd like to read about!

Focus Issues 2007 July Threat Groups - gangs, procedures on managing, avoiding August Off the Clock - What practitioners do in their leisure time We are currently accepting submissions for all issues. Contribute

CORRECTIONS.COM FEATURE STORIES

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The term “micro-manager” is common. But, is it really fully understood? The concept is not as simple as it appears. In fact, there are seven misconceptions about micro-management. More

Mission: Success - Indicators to assault

When we speak about the use of force, I notice more and more that officers either need or want the green light before they act. When it comes to the use of force COs deep down have an intimate fear of either reacting too soon, not at the right time, or not at all. They have a natural ingrained fear of the criminal themselves, or their administration for not supporting their actions or decisions, or of their peers for not having their backs because of those very same reasons. More

Anticipate and prevent

The morose repercussions of an offender suicide can reverberate through a facility for days, weeks or months. As staff, offenders and family come to grips with an in-custody death, procedures and processes are usually revisited to prevent an even like this from happening again. More

BUSINESS NEWS

Federal Bureau of Prisons licenses ATG’s pharmacy administration system

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) has licensed ATG’s Pharmacy Administration System for all its 114 institutions nationwide. The system has been successfully piloted and full deployment is expected to be completed in 24 months. More

Community Education Centers acquires CiviGenics

Community Education Centers, Inc. (CEC), the leading provider of offender reentry services, today announced that it has acquired CiviGenics, Marlborough, Mass., the largest provider of in-prison treatment programs. More

PCS Awarded the San Diego County Sheriff's Detention Facilities, California Inmate Telephone Service Contract

Public Communications Services, Inc. the industry leader in providing inmate communications solutions to the corrections industry, is pleased to announce that San Diego County, California Sheriff's Department has signed a 3 year contract with PCS, Inc. for their inmate telephone services. More

CAREER WATCH

Gill joins RIDOC legal team Eamonn G. Gill has become senior legal counsel for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections where he will focus on labor and discipline matters. Read more

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EVENTS

APPA 32nd Annual Training Institute

Date: 7/8 - 7/11/07
Participate in over 70 educational sessions for all levels in the community corrections profession. Network with your peers at special events. View the latest products in the resource expo. Build your career--earn contact hour credit. More

Correctional Education Association 2007 Annual Conference

Date: 7/8 - 7/11/07
The CEA Executive Board and 2007 Conference Chairs invite you to attend the 62nd CEA Conference in Atlanta, GA; the big city full of Southern hospitality. Workshop Proposals may be submitted electronically on CEA's web site, ceanational.org. More

Anger Management Certification Training

Date: 7/12 - 7/13/07
40-hour certification training programs. Option 1- Live training (2 days) followed by online training modules. Option 2- Home study program. Consists of DVD plus online training modules.More

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I am not really concerned if the glass if half full or half empty. I tend to check if the glass is clean.
- Joseph Bouchard, Librarian, Michigan Department of Corrections

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