Gary Cornelius

Talks About Training

Lt. Gary F. Cornelius retired in 2005 from the Fairfax County (VA) Office of the Sheriff, after serving over 27 years in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. His prior service in law enforcement included service in the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division. His jail career included assignments in confinement, work release, programs, planning/ policy and classification.

He has taught corrections courses for George Mason University since 1986. He also teaches corrections in service sessions throughout Virginia, and has performed training and consulting for the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association and the National Institute of Justice. His latest book, The Correctional Officer: A Practical Guide: Third Edition will be published later this year by Carolina Academic Press. He has authored several other books about corrections including The American Jail: Cornerstone of Modern Corrections, 2008 from Pearson Prentice Hall, The Art of the Con: Avoiding Offender Manipulation, Second Edition, 2009, and Stressed Out: Strategies for Living and Working in Corrections, Second Edition, 2005, both available from the American Correctional Association.

Gary received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in Social Science from his alma mater, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and an Instructor Appreciation Award from George Mason University. He is an independent freelance correctional author and trainer. Gary serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP) representing local adult corrections. He can be reached at 571-233-0912 or at adjinstructor@hotmail.com.

Full list of Gary Cornelius results

4 issues corrections must address in 2020
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From a lack of civilian training to the effects of chronic fatigue on officers, the corrections profession faces many challenges in the next decade
12 tips for correctional trainers
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Follow these steps to ensure you provide an engaging learning experience for your students
4 things that change once you become a correctional supervisor
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Are you ready for the profound changes that take place when you transform from correctional officer to supervisor?
The top safety and operational issues that impacted corrections in 2018
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Assaults on correctional officers, inmate mental healthcare and the impact of new technologies dominated the headlines this year
How to spice up your corrections training with a dash of history
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A dose of corrections history provides some great learning points masquerading as war stories
Why correctional facilities need a social media policy
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Having a clearly defined policy in place may save correctional officer careers
6 core competencies for correctional supervisors
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The development of competent jail supervisors motivates staff, enhances operations and is good for the future of the agency
Top legal issues that impacted corrections in 2017
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Lawsuits and legal rulings can provide teachable moments for both correctional leaders and COs
8 ways to destroy your correctional officer career
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When we see a fellow staff member – sworn or civilian – start down a slippery slope, we should try to get them back on the right path
Why transformational leadership is the right model for corrections
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Transformational leadership is an empowering theory of leadership that is a stark contrast to our standard paramilitary model
5 supervisory styles you find in correctional facilities
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What style of supervision is best for managing correctional officers?
How effective is your civilian training program?
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Here's how to ensure civilians don’t become a safety risk at your correctional facility
Corrections and the mentally ill: 3 ways to improve the system
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I hope to see improvement in how law enforcement manages the mentally ill offender
How corrections officers can avoid being sued by an inmate
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Each year, we read about corrections officers getting fired and prosecuted for violating the basic rights of inmates, and 2016 was no different
Book Excerpt: The Art of the Con: Avoiding Offender Manipulation, Second Edition
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The following is an excerpt from Chapter 3, How Inmates Do Time
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