Topic: Everything Education / Cultural diversity

I am the Diversity/Civil Rights Officer for the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.(MA)
I have done a number of Diversity Trainings
I can be reached at 978-932-3311

Topic: Everything Education / Cultural diversity

Good Afternoon,
May I suggest you visit the library of the National Institute of Correction’s website: www.nicic.org? The library contains many lesson plans on this topic for this specific audience. I suggest that you first offer some cultural “awareness” training before doing anything else? Your participants need to know how they feel and/or react to differences in a culturally diverse environment. Good Luck.

Topic: Security Central / Cellphone/Video Survailance Policies

I am looking for any policies relating to below,

Any policy on Video Survailence from request to who can view.

Any policy on issuance of cell phone to transporation staff.

Please email me at mrivera@hcnj.us

Respectfully
Lt M Rivera

Topic: A Broader View / Is it really as negative as it sounds?

I read this book “Games Criminals Play” as commented below. That book is awsome!! And it has helped me immensely on the job day to day!!! We should be versed on their games, and the way they test officers. I have been able to pick up on things before they happen, thanks to this book!!

Topic: Everything Education / Cultural diversity

Better yet, since the criminal justice system is heavily weighted against minorities why not contact a minority speaker who has more insight and information? Try runokorashidi@yahoo.com and see if he can whip up a down to earth program for you that inmates and officers alike can understand. He travels the world visiting universities from Cairo to Kokomo giving lectures on African and minority history, so this diversity education would be a breeze for him.

Topic: Everything Education / Cultural diversity

Let me suggest you contact the Anti-defamation League (ADL) and they will help you tailor a program specific to your area – which can be modified as populations change. You can find a contact for them (and a explanation of their diversity training) at: http://www.adl.org/education/edu_awod/awod_diversity_training.asp.

Topic: The Club House / Anyone From Tx Corrections?

I work in corrections in Texas and would can provide information. I realize this post is a bit old and may be out of date but let me know if you would like information.

Topic: The Club House / A Rather Pissing Me Off Thing

As a woman of God,I am going to choose my words carefully.Though men,women and children commit crimes,this does not make them without family.I do not agree that they should be able to attend just any family funeral.I strongly believe that immediate family members that pass away should be the exception.Why do I say this?Why do I feel this way?I have family(close in relation)in the prison system.People only have one mother,one father,one set of brothers and sisters,and grandparents,and there is also spouses………Going to prison doesn’t mean that they not only will serve the sentence for their offense,but they should be punished even more buy being denied the right to say good-bye to someone for the very last time.Being in prison is hard enough.Not just on the prisoners,but the families also.Why does this bother you so very much?If,God forbid,you broke the law,went to prison and your mother,father,sister,brother,wife,son,daughter,grandchild died.Would you feel the same way you feel now???

Topic: The Club House / A Rather Pissing Me Off Thing

One thing I’d like to clarify on my post is that we only allow offenders to attend funerals within the state of Oklahoma. They don’t fly anywhere – they are driven in a state van. If it is out of state, it is not allowed.

Topic: The Club House / A Rather Pissing Me Off Thing

I think you might be making an assumption about travelling on the public’s dime – it’s not done. Ontario does not have the financial resources to build new prisons for Harper, let alone fly inmates all over the country. Considering the over-work that most public employees face, perhaps you are just a bit peeved that your nephew had to work on a Saturday. If you are positive that the flight was at the taxpayers’ expense, perhaps you might like to send the details to the Toronto Star for one of their front page, investigative reports.

Topic: Everything Education / Cultural diversity

hello,

i’m looking for any info or powerpoint presentations in ref to cultural diversity. this will be used for a yearly in service training class of new and veteran correction officers.

any info provided is greatly appreciated. please email

Topic: The Club House / A Rather Pissing Me Off Thing

I work in Virginia at a local jail. We do allow visits, but the inmate must pay for the trip. He has to pay the hourly rate for 2 officers and mileage. It has to paid in advance.

Topic: Security Central / CERT

Hey Sgt. Contact the guys at Riot Ready. They have some really good trainers that are all CERT all the time. High Speed Low Drag. They have a lot of great information.

Topic: The Club House / Do You Have Uniform Inspection?

Wow SGM …..what was your MOS?? You sound a little ‘’over qualified’’ to be a C/O……impressive resume!!!!

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

George,you have given me useful insight into what life is as a correction officer.I am determined to offer my best service as a correction officer.I will see corrections as a way of life and not just ‘a job’.Thanks for the info

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

Mbuba,
The good? Job security. Also the bond you will make with your co-workers is nothing short of the bond you have with brothers and sisters in the military if you have served.

Please don’t get me wrong Mbuba, some people make fantastic careers in corrections. But for the most part, corrections will eat a person alive and can have lasting affects on their personalities. I don’t think it’s fair to candy coat or glamorize the great things you can do in corrections like saving all the lost souls and converting the evil to saints (insert sarcasm)…. the truth of the matter is alot of your training will be; how to avoid getting stabbed, performing a proper inmate investigation, signs of impending aggression, how to CYA because at one point in your career it will come down to an inmate’s word against yours. One might think your word is golden, but I have seen officers dismissed because like I said, inmates have 24/7 to refine their skills and trade. That “trade” is making your life difficult.

Keep in mind the people in your charge are there because they are the worst society has to offer. Day in and day out you deal with those people. Regardless of how strong you may believe your convictions are, you will take home bits and pieces of your job to your wife, kids and friends. Eventually your friends will abandon you and only your co-workers will be left, then when you get together you generally talk about work the entire time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to talk you out of it, I’m simply telling you what’s on the small print on the back of the brochure.

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

George,thanks for the information.You have certainly told me about the bad and the ugly but what of the good in this profession?

Topic: A Broader View / Do treatment programs reduce recidivism?

Just like all statistics, they are manipulated to prove or disprove the point of any author. I for one find any statistics regarding recividism as inherently flawed, unless the convict is dead and can’t re-offend.

A better question is how we measure success; five years till he/she re-offends, 10 years, 20? I suppose I’m fairly jaded having worked for a small County facility about 15 years ago with a population of around 350. I saw the same names in and out, in and out, in and out. Some folks would re-offend just so they could spend the winter inside with 3 hots and a cot. In my humble opinion, and I stress this is simply an opinion, jails are not a deterrent anymore.

Commissary, law libraries, conjugal visits and things of this nature do nothing more than coddle and reaffirm the victim status of inmates. Jail is no different than many inner city street corners. You have your small cramped apartment (cell), corner meeting place (yard), and the gang you run with while you are working on your hussle. Nothing has changed except the scenery. How many COs have invested time and emotion into an inmate thinking and hoping they could break through to them, only to find a year later that inmate back serving out their sentence? There comes a point in which a person is gone in my opinion. You can’t undo decades of mental and or physical abuse from their upbringing, you can’t undo their life experiences. What you can do is make prison less comfortable so the offender realizes the crime isn’t worth the time.

Please note this opinion is personal and does not reflect that of my company. (Sorry don’t need my own lawyers riding my ass.)

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

“I just went for an interview in Virginia to be a correction officer and after the interview my finger prints were taken for background check and i was told it may take up to 3 or 4 weeks before they will call me. Please can any one tell me why it takes that long and what will be the next step after that?”

Mbuba, one key phrase you need to learn is “24/7”.
24/7 is the time an inmate has to find your weakness, to see what makes you tick, to see how he/she can manipulate you. 3 weeks is the short amount of time the facility has to see if you have the mental strength, knowledge, people skills and moral compass to effectively do your job. Some of these people have nothing to lose and seeing the fresh CO for them is a game, an opportunity, a break from the mundane. You will see the very worst humanity has to offer and see things so violent TV could not possibly portray. You get one chance to deal with that before you get a reputation. Back down, panic and your job will become miserable and the inmates will brand you for life and you’ll quit shortly thereafter.

How will you deal with the first time getting sprayed by an inmate? How will you deal with an inmate that clenches his fists infront of you when you tell him his chit is denied. These inmates have become masters of their enviornment and especially of human nature. They can see through you and then some. I would think of the short three weeks as protection for you, these people (facility) will check every aspect of your background and if they feel you can do the job, then congrats, if not, count your blessings and move on. I will say this, impatient and eager COs are usually the first ones to go.

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

@Sam,thanks a lot for the information.I appreciate it

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

I’ve had the opportunity assisted the H.R. department to conduct a background check on 4 different individuals and the process takes up to 3 weeks. I have to check our database to see if the individual have any arrest record and also check with the BCI as well. Once that done I turned my files in to them and usually the Sergeant in H.R. will contact you and let you know whether you are select for the next step……and that is medicals. It took me about 6 months before I got hired on with Salt Lake County Sheriff Office. So be patience. You will go thru academy for anoher 3-6 months before you even work.

Topic: The Club House / FC LT COLONEL NATO NAVY "W-5 & O-4"

JUDGE Christopher Alan Green SR. Ewok PENTAGON Psychiatrist

Topic: Security Central / Inmates barricading cell doors, Ideas to combat this Read for example of cell door

This hasn’t happened in our facility yet but word of this design flaw has made it to the State Prison and I’m being told it is becoming common knowledge with the inmates there. My administration is attempting to be pro-active in avoiding this problem at our facility. We tried it on a couple of our doors and it is indeed a real problem. Has anyone heard of any solutions?

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

I just went for an interview in Virginia to be a correction officer and after the interview my finger prints were taken for background check and i was told it may take up to 3 or 4 weeks before they will call me.Please can any one tell me why it takes that long and what will be the next step after that?

Topic: The Club House / Unusual situation

We know that the use of oc spray is unavoidable in the area of your employment. Any allergy be it to bees, pepper spray, etc, must be managed as it has the potential to be a life threatening event. However being in a correctional facility puts a slight spin on things. First, make sure correctional staff, specifically supervisors/administrators know that you have this condition and require your epi pen in some proximity accessable, yet secure; that correctional staff assigned to your area or co-workers know it is there for your safety as well as knowing that a potential weapon is out there. Jobs are hard to come by these days, only you know what you can tolerate and what is best for you.