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.
Corrections officers statewide hold the line, calling for stronger safety measures and an end to HALT
“The label of ‘resident'— currently used by the Department of Corrections— for incarcerated persons obscures the joint goals of deterrence, rehabilitation and punishment,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte said
Proactive supervision, strong policies and solid documentation can keep your staff — and your agency — out of legal trouble
With the proper support, mindset, policies and training, critical stress can be identified and handled efficiently and effectively
To ensure the force you are using is within the bounds of what is legal, appropriate and covered by your agency’s policies, keep these four goals in mind
Dedication to your work is important, but you also must be OK with cutting the cord, filing the report and moving on
Key steps include creating a policy to govern bodycam use, choosing the most appropriate equipment and getting buy-in from COs
Your written report can turn what was a volatile and unpredictable incident into an example of a sensible and rational response
Simply using a police model is a mistake as it lacks the specific content that is unique to corrections
Reporting and dissecting close calls will improve safety while decreasing liability
While video is key in enhancing facility security, it also carries risks that must be addressed to reduce liability for the agency and its officers
Leaders in our nation’s jails and prisons should follow these six steps to address the crisis, reduce the risk and provide much-needed support
In addition to the risk of depression and suicide, transgender people experience sexual violence, harassment and other adverse conditions at higher rates than the general population
Vigilance at every step helps officers avoid complacency and ward off prisoner escapes or assaults
With unscrupulous manufacturers selling defective masks and citizens donating ‘homemade’ efforts, public safety agencies must establish face mask guidelines
Many arrestees think that if they say they have COVID-19, they will not go to jail, but that’s not how the system works
While many facilities use outside cleaning businesses, here’s what to do if those services are not available
Medical staff can provide an inmate’s protected healthcare information to custody when requested and still maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations
Correctional institutions are uniquely susceptible to the rapid spread of disease
How would you handle these challenging situations?
Public safety employers have statutory mandates to protect their employees and the public from these diseases
From policy development to ongoing training, here’s how to develop an effective correctional emergency response team
From jail booking to prison transport, the chance of an inmate attacking an officer is ever-present
Officials have found providing inmates in solitary confinement with mental stimulation reduces risk to COs, other inmates
New policies focusing on the use of low-cost incentives like extra snacks are helping to reduce the number of inmates in isolation cells
When Michele Smiley was booked on a probation violation she told staff she had ingested “a lot” of meth
The program came under scrutiny after Jeffrey Epstein was said to have had ‘improper sexual conduct’ while on work-release
Failure to accommodate inmates with disabilities puts jails at considerable legal risk, while posing safety risks to inmates and COs
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections asked state legislators to lower the minimum hiring age to 18
The program came under scrutiny after Jeffrey Epstein was said to have had ‘improper sexual conduct’ while on work-release
A trial date has been set for the COs who were assigned to watch Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in prison
As of July 2018, over 600 correctional facilities had implemented some form of video visitation
The officers will be designated to identify and process undocumented immigrants
