Corrections Policies
Corrections policies are the backbone of effective correctional facility management, guiding the daily operations, inmate management, and staff conduct. This directory provides articles that detail the development, implementation, and impact of various policies within the correctional system. Understanding corrections policies is crucial for ensuring compliance, maintaining order, and promoting facility safety. For further information on how these policies are enforced, explore our section on Correctional Facility Procedures.
The bill follows the budget rollback of the 72-hour notice rule and would prevent MDOC from reinstating it in the future
New welfare check protocols at the Otter Tail County Jail require staff to assess visibility, signs of life, mental health and access to water
Used wisely, discretion strengthens safety and legitimacy in corrections; misused, it erodes authority and ethics
The deadly uprisings at Attica, New Mexico State Penitentiary and Lucasville still hold critical lessons for correctional safety, staffing, communication and crisis response
Family members said the lack of parole — and the new parole guidelines — take away hope and create dangerous conditions inside an overcrowded prison system
The new guidelines place greater weight on an inmate’s original crime and in-prison behavior when determining parole readiness
The court found that over-the-counter medication did not cause Robert McCauley’s positive methamphetamine test and upheld his termination under the state’s zero-tolerance drug policy
A federal settlement requires the Sonoma County jail to accept materials from publishers unless there’s a clear security risk and give inmates a way to appeal rejections
Real-world stories of inmate ingenuity highlight the importance of ongoing training to prevent manipulation and contraband smuggling
Supreme Court will hear case of Rastafarian whose dreadlocks were shaved by La. corrections officers
Damon Landor hadn’t cut his hair in nearly two decades when he entered Louisiana’s prison system in 2020 on a five-month sentence
The policy changes are meant to stop unmonitored communication by inmates and “will improve tablet registration and tracking by the facility”
After being left unattended for nearly two hours, one inmate was able to break a window in the van and unlock the doors, allowing all seven to get out and call for help on an intercom
Jurors recommended that Sheriff Kelly Martinez implement a continuous quality improvement dashboard and make it publicly accessible on the department’s website
The lawsuit seeks a judge’s temporary and permanent order to stop the policy at four prisons
Gov. Laura Kelly and law enforcement leaders pressed for a reversal in the case of Jimmie Nelms, who shot the trooper with his own service weapon
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the escapees broke through a cell wall and used a blind spot to flee undetected, likely with help from inside the facility
Proactive strategies and skills to foster a culture of accountability and support to prevent misconduct
Officers who return to work would be subject to a “disciplinary evaluation period” for the remainder of their career with DOCCS
Facing a 4,000-officer shortfall, Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing unarmed, supervised entry-level roles to jumpstart correctional careers early
Officers seized weapons, tattoo devices and synthetic marijuana in a coordinated contraband operation at Charles B. Webster Detention Center
A Cook County sheriff’s report cites longer case timelines and policy shifts under the state’s attorney as factors in 12% population growth
With eight drug exposure incidents sending staff to hospitals in just 15 months, union leaders are callong on Congress to pass legislation mandating prison mail screening protocols
The duty to intervene in an excessive force situation is your legal and moral responsibility
Staff training on manipulation and improper relationships is key and must be constant and clear for all sworn and non-sworn staff
How leadership failures, unchecked behavior and inadequate training contribute to toxic correctional environments — and what it takes to change the culture
These are the skills high-performing employees use every day to make them stand apart from others
The union says DOCCS is ignoring safety concerns and the impact of firing 2,000 corrections officers after the strike
Lawmakers and law enforcement officials say the plan to release some prisoners up to 110 days early is a dangerous response to staffing shortages and failed prison reforms
Under a new executive order, federal agencies can conduct criminal probes and intelligence sharing on gang activity and crimes committed within the jail
The group calls on Congress to change federal law to help corrections officials stop inmates from using contraband phones to commit crimes
Under the plan, Ohio prisons would be directed to pursue lethal injection drugs in partnership with the DOJ and provide twice-yearly progress reports
New York is using early release authority under the state’s correction law to maintain order and reduce pressure on remaining staff
Officer Andrew Lansing’s death has prompted a legislative push to address safety gaps in the state prison system
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