Facility Design & Operation

The Facility Design and Operation topic offers news and expert columns on the construction and management of prisons — from how architectural choices can affect inmate behavior to upgrades and closures.

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Why facilities should rotate inmate workers
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Regular rotation of inmate workers can minimize over-familiarity and complacency between officers and inmates
First impressions at intake
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What an inmate thinks of policies and procedures, begins at inmate reception
Continuity of care for released inmates
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Our liability does not end when the inmate walks out of our jail and the steel gate closes behind him or her
Why everyone is responsible for keeping the jail clean
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Keeping the jail clean may fall into the box of "other duties assigned" but that does not mean officers should disregard the importance of jail cleanliness
Duty to protect inmates
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Protecting inmates is not only our mandate, it is the right thing to do
Consider direct supervision in your jail
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While direct supervision is nothing new, some people still don't understand the benefits of the concept
Emergency response planning must be done before an incident occurs
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Security features in jails and prisons make it very difficult for first responders to get into a facility in the event of an emergency like a fire
How effective is your correctional facility's emergency preparedness plan?
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According to an NIJ study, emergency preparedness is not a significant priority for American jails and prisons and few facilities have any types of emergency plans in place. In this tip, risk management expert and Lexipol co-founder Gordon Graham details why such planning is essential.

Get more tips from Gordon here.
The essential role of safety checks in corrections
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Risk management expert and Lexipol co-founder Gordon Graham outlines the need for safety checks, which are defined as face-to-face, direct visual observation of an inmate on an irregular basis.

Get more tips from Gordon here.
Why teamwork is key to preventing inmate escapes
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It is predictable that the bad guys will try to escape from jail, but through officer teamwork, it is preventable. In this tip, risk management expert and Lexipol co-founder Gordan Graham discusses what that teamwork should entail.

For more tips from Gordon, click here.
More than a glorified babysitter
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Feeling down about the work you do? In this tip, Lexipol co-founder Gordon Graham discusses how you can change your attitude about your custody assignment.

For more tips from Gordon, click here.
The lethal toll of hot prisons
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A look at how hot prisons threaten the safety of corrections officers and inmates. Jointly reported by The Weather Channel, The Marshall Project and Divided Films.
A rare look inside France's prison system
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France 24 looks into the challenges faced by France's penitentiary system. They take a closer look at the initiatives being tested to avoid repeat offences and help inmates prepare for life after detention through sport, but also French classes.
Key takeaways from the Del. prison riot report
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Independent investigators have released their preliminary report of their findings in regards to the Delaware riot that occurred on February 1, 2017. Their findings show that the situation could have been prevented had proper communication existed between frontline and management. Anthony Gangi discusses his specific concerns related to the preliminary report and highlights the need for correctional management on a national level to read this report. Delaware is the outcome of a national issue that is making the field of corrections vulnerable. What happens in Delaware can easily happen elsewhere. Why wait? Act now, so we can prevent the loss of another hero.
A glimpse inside Tennessee State Prison
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Tennessee State Prison was open from 1898 to 1992. Today, it is not an abandoned property. The Tennessee DOC still actively utilizes the grounds and due to the secure nature of their business, it is off limits to the public.
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