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| SUGGESTIONS FOR HOUSING THE HIGH PROFILE INMATE AND SURVIVING THE PROCESS |
| By Courtesy of the LA County Sheriff's Department |
| Published: 01/13/2002 |
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PERSONNEL *Select from the best of your staff - individuals capable of remaining attentive to, but professionally distant from, the high profile inmate *Review your written policy and procedures regarding inappropriate staff vs. inmate relations, or fraternization. *Thoroughly brief your key personnel beforehand, ensure that everyone understands the compromises that can occur when working with the high profile inmate *Constantly monitor for the development of inappropriate relationships between staff and the high profile inmate PHYSICAL PLANT *Select a housing area that is appropriately secluded from the majority of the facility - you will lose all order if the superstar frequently comes in contact with other inmates. Meals, medical services, visitation attorney conferences, to name a few, are best accomplished through separation from the rest of the facility population Constant video monitoring on tape will prevent staff from 'dropping by' to say hello to the superstar SECURITY The eyes of the world are on you and your facility - you don't want to lose him, you don't want him to be hurt, you don't want an embarrassing incident that with anyone else involved would go unnoticed - so plan accordingly *Think about how you are going to handle the mail - it will literally come from around the world - negotiate with the defense and use them as the first filter *Be mindful of the threat from within - what better way for a fellow inmate to be recorded in history? LEGAL Consider obtaining dedicated counsel to assist you with the endless legal issues and defense motions regarding how you house the high profile inmate *Remain as neutral as possible with respect to the prosecution vs. the defense. You will end up with everyone upset with you if you play any other role than that of the 'jailer.' Learn to 'whistle Dixie and the Battle Hymn of the Republic with equal enthusiasm' THE MEDIA *Understand, and accept, that the Media's first job is to get the story. Everything else is secondary. Sometimes, it's during this first part that you want to go home early - and never come back *Know your Media before you meet them for the first time in a crisis situation. If you don't meet with them several times a year, just to talk, you're missing a golden opportunity *Familiarize the media with appropriate aspects of your operations, and have them provide 'reverse ride-a-longs' for you and your staff. Lots can be solved between people who know each other *The Media out of towners will descend on you from all directions during a truly big story and you won't know who they are. Consider asking your local media to take charge and organize the others. Local media associations work wonders if you ask them to perform this service to you *Plan for a big Media event well in advance -fact sheets about your facility and your organization are critical pieces of information to hand out at the right time. Pre-filmed video 'B-Roll' footage of your facility will solve the request to let Media cameras in. Remember to have it shot on 'Beta Format,' or in another professional manner so the media can't complain that the 'professional level' isn't there *If you don't have a designated and trained Press Information Officer (PIO) acquire one soon. Training is available across the country *If you don't have a Press Relations Policy, that is known to all employees, develop one as soon as possible *Be familiar with legal decisions regarding media access *Contemplate pool coverage arrangements with the media with regard to certain aspects of a story - this generally consists of one television cameraman and reporter, radio reporter, and print reporter, covering the story and feeding back to the other stations and papers *Remember that in television 'If you don't have a picture, you don't have a story! *Meet with your staff regularly and specifically address the issue of INFORMATION LEAKAGE ABOVE ALL ELSE - BE IMPARTIAL. WHEN WORKING WITH THE MEDIA, DO NOT PLAY FAVORITES. INFORMATION THAT YOU RELEASE MUST BE RELEASED TO EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME. |
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