5 reasons why roll calls are invaluable

There are many ‘calls’ in our lives, such as ‘mail call,’ or-‘sick call.’ One ‘call’ that I have always considered important to any corrections facility is roll call.

The correctional facility roll call is a key, critical part of the institution’s workday. Why? Simply, supervisors, agency heads and trainers have, and excuse the pun, a ‘captive audience.’

Roll calls are important for several reasons:

Supervisors can give a talk on teamwork, a sort of pep talk. Some correctional officers (COs), especially those who are a little jaded and calloused, need a pep talk occasionally. I occasionally think of the old 1980s TV series “Hill Street Blues,” where each episode started with a sergeant giving out information, advice and telling the police officers to be careful out on the street. Roll call can reset the COs’ thinking before they go up to the cellblocks. They can be advised to be careful out there, around inmates.

Agency heads, such as sheriffs and superintendents can address issues such as pay, benefits, improvements or changes in the agency, and answer any questions from the rank and file officers. Senior staff can also address issues that are serious including ineffective searches, inmate suicide, escapes, sexual misconduct, and contraband. This may not be pleasant but if problems are serious enough for a sheriff to address COs at roll calls, perhaps some things need to be said. If this is done in a mutually respective way, the ‘higher ups’ and the COs can clear the air and have concerns addressed.

Roll call also allows for speakers to come in and give COs information about inmates, services, programs and services for COs, such as an Employee Assistance Program, or EAP. Also, new staff that is hired such as mental health staff or the chaplain can introduce themselves to the COs.

Roll calls are also a good time to review policies and procedures. Every correctional agency has policies and procedures that are introduced, revised or rescinded. At times, some need clarification. Some may not be popular or welcomed. Every CO knows that they have to follow orders. If the orders included in a policy or procedure are at least explained to the CO along with their reasoning, this shows the CO a level of respect.

Training is an often overlooked aspect of roll call. Most roll calls last between 20 and 30 minutes. Training officers can plan for small components of training on a subject. For example, a jail has had a recent inmate suicide. Training is not a reading verbatim of the jail’s suicide general order and having everyone sign a form stating that they received ‘training.’ That looks good in a file. Effective training would be a discussion of inmate suicide: symptoms, times, methods, intervention, preventative measures, liability, etc., spread out over several roll calls per shift.

Training can also discuss incident reports, especially when action that was taken was commendable. Examples include finding contraband, preventing an escape, saving an inmate’s life in a suicide attempt, etc. With a Power Point presentation and video, trainers can present good training in a little portion of time. The subjects are endless: contraband, searching, gangs, mental illness, just to name a few.

Roll calls are opportunities to pass on information; some facilities do not have roll call, relying on COs to pass on vital information to the oncoming shift. While this approach may keep staff overtime costs down, a more effective approach and one that would enhance operations is the off going shift brief supervisors of the oncoming shift, then critical information can be openly discussed at roll call. All reports that occurred since the squad or team was last present and on duty can be discussed, especially about assaultive inmates or inmates that are mentally ill or are escape risks.

There are always ‘bumps in the road.’ Some COs are anxious to get on post, or think that roll call is not that important. Good supervisors and leadership must persuade them otherwise.

One good slogan that I heard a lot in my correctional career was:

Knowledge is power.

Roll calls: They can give you that knowledge.