One of the things that I have become aware of as a correctional trainer and author is the variety of source material available. I started my correctional career in the late 1970s and became a trainer a few years later. I got in the habit of scanning news media; at the time, print media included magazines and newspapers. I also had a tape ready to record any broadcast programs that discussed jail and corrections issues. It’s a habit that I still practice today.
Now we have the Internet, plus more professional publications than ever before in the history of corrections. The information for the correctional trainer seems to be everywhere — and it is.
The correctional trainer has to constantly consume and comprehend a variety of information. The corrections field is changing rapidly -- just look at the technological advances that have occurred in the past 20 years. Video security, high-tech control centers and inmate identification systems are just a few examples.
Many trainers have to present training on such issues as special inmate management, officer safety, suicide prevention and constitutional rights of inmates, just to name a few. It’s a challenge to come up with factual information and develop it into a lesson plan that is fresh and interesting. Also, the trainer may encounter a trainee that may openly challenge the information, usually resulting in a lively debate.
I’m going to give you, the trainer, some advice on finding good information that can keep presentations fresh and factual:
- Go to news websites: For example, you hear about a correctional facility that is having problems with special management inmates. Someone told you that it was on the news. You can go to the news site, print out the article and use it to build or support a lesson plan. Make sure that the news site is reputable, well researched and objective.
- Be careful about websites: The great thing about the Internet is that it gives a voice to many people on many issues and opinions. A website can look very professional and polished. But examine it closely. The person or organization that sponsors the website may have an agenda that you don’t agree with. You should reconsider using the information if articles and comments that are posted clearly do not respect corrections or voice opinions not backed up by facts.
There are exceptions. We know that some civil rights organizations support inmate litigation against corrections facilities, and the information posted on them comes from attorneys. If you are teaching a class in inmate litigation and avoiding liability, you may find that seeing what the other side is doing may give you some unique perspective on that subject. - Use professional corrections news sites and organizations: You as a trainer are very aware of the professional organizations that exist as well as websites devoted to factual news, research and opinions about the correctional field. Explore them -- use them. Most contain columnists that write very well-researched and thought-provoking articles on correctional issues. Their credentials are posted -- or should be. Give them and their experience careful consideration. I have used many columns and know some of the columnists personally. If you like a column or article, contact the columnist and introduce yourself. You will not regret the professional contact and exchange of information that results.
- Be ethical: cite the source: Always cite the source -- it is the right thing to do.
- Remember: if you can look it up easily, so can the attendee to your presentation: Handheld devices, notebooks and laptops can enable those in your class to look up the source while you are talking about a particular subject. If they are the type of person who likes a challenge, they may question you on it. Be prepared.
- Do not rule out print media: Some texts and magazines provide good information. If a colleague says to you that the superintendent is throwing out some old correctional magazines or books, ask to see them. You may be surprised by what you may find. Not all information that you can use is online. Go through your old corrections magazines and look for any material before you discard them, too. With print media the same rule applies as to websites: make sure that the source and author are reputable. Even though statistics may be out of date, some concepts of the material may have withstood the test of time.
- Don’t throw away those old VHS tapes and DVDs: Some old video media can get new life if you can find a use for them. Some of the information can be shown and updated, such as statistics. Also, you can convert old VHS videotapes to DVDs. Just because some information is dated does not mean that it cannot be of benefit to your presentation.
The challenges of being a correctional trainer are never-ending. I hope this advice has helped. Good luck!
