Effective Correctional Services: Custody and Control of Inmates

 

Effective Correctional Services: Custody and Control of Inmates

 

The operation of a prison facility is significantly affected by three major components that include the correctional staffs, incarcerated offenders, and the prison facility itself (property). Every major incident, activity, or emergency that occur in a prison usually involves all these three essentials components, and without one or the other, an institution cannot function as a correctional institution. In other words, what makes an institution a correctional institution is the presence of correctional staffs and incarcerated offenders, interacting under the same roof, in a close vicinity.

Major interactions between offenders and correctional staffs usually take place in the housing units. Here, correctional officers engage with inmates. They intervene, manage, and resolve conflicts, crisis, and issues that arise between and among inmates. In the most of the time, a prison emergency would start from the housing unit, and when its starts, correctional staffs and their supervisors must be able to contain an emergency situation, deactivate it, and restore security and order. Once an emergency situation spreads beyond the control of housing unit staffs, it can easily become a threat to the public. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Office of Staffs Development and Training, (2017), major prison emergencies include escape, hostage situation, fire, inmate death, and inmate riot. At one particular time or the other, every prison facility will experience an emergency; however, a good leader and competent correctional staff will prevent the emergency from becoming a threat to the public.

Also, according to Gelfand, M. J., Leslie, L. M., Keller, K. & Dedreu, C. W. (2010), every organization, either small or large, has the potential and the tendency to experience crisis or emergency; however, it is the responsibility of leaders to strive to overcome it (P.5). Therefore, correctional staffs must be professional and be consistent in their daily interaction with incarcerated offenders. They must understand that there uppermost responsibility is to protect the public. This is the whole point of the department in the first place. This is why we are all here, to keep these highly dangerous convicts away from the general population.

 

Correctional Housing Unit Management

Maintaining the custody and control of incarcerated offenders on the housing unit is the most effective way to prevent an emergency and ultimately protect the public. This involves developing and implementing a standard of operation that encourages safe and secured atmosphere for inmates and correctional staffs. For instance, observation of inmates’ activities in their assigned cell and housing area, by custody staffs, should be feasible without any hindrance. Movement of offenders, from one area of the prison to another, should not post a safety risk or risk of escape; and all inmates, regardless of age, race, physical capability, or crime convicted of, should be able to live, in their housing unit, with peace of mind and free of threat, harassment, assault, or extortion from peers.

Maintaining the custody and control of incarcerated offenders on the housing unit also includes the provision of inmates’ needs, and management of inmates’ welfare. Incarcerated offenders have little or no ability to make their own decision, do whatever they wish to do, or live their live as they please. The have social and sometimes, physical limitations; they are unable to completely function as capable human beings; and as a result, they are needier than people in the community. Correctional Housing Unit Managers (CHUM) and supervisors must provide and be able to meet the needs of inmates assigned to their unit, in accordance with the department’s policy and guidelines. For instance, just like people in the community, inmates’ needs include personal hygiene products, food and essential nutrition, recreation activities materials, clothes and other essential daily products. It is the responsibility of a good CHUM to develop and implement a standard of operation that fosters the provision, supply, and maintenance of inmate needs and concerns.

Notwithstanding, detention, custody and control of inmates will not be possible without the use of mechanical control and restraints devices like cuffs, keys, and lock devices. It will not be possible without the use of communication devises like radio, telephone, and intercom paging system, and it will be extremely difficult without the use of inmates’ population and movement control system like electronically controlled doors, use of sally port, inmate holding cell, and the use of recreation and retention cages for high security control inmates. Thus, effective inmate management will not be possible without effective maintenance and management of available correctional resources, which includes correctional equipment, the housing unit area, assigned correctional staff, and the inmate population.
 

 Maintenance and management of inmate-control equipment, tools, and other assigned assets are important part of the responsibilities of supervisors and housing unit managers. A good leader must develop a plan and procedure for equipment control and accountability. In a prison facility, the potential for crisis and violence activities is very high. Dangerous and violent offenders are constantly looking for a way to disrupt the peace and smooth operation of the facility. They are always engaging in activities that pose threat to safety and security of the facility. Therefore, to prevent an emergency or a crisis situation, like escape, deadly assault on staff, or a hostage situation, proper control and accountability of security keys, restraints, radios, and other control station equipment must be maintained.


In addition, while it is important to control and account for assigned equipment, tools, and other assets, supervisors must develop and supervise equipment and assets refinement plan. For instance, assigned radio, restraints, locks, and other control devices must be managed and refined regularly. Broken radio, non-serviceable baton, or locking device that does not work can pose threat to safety and security, and it can hinder effective custody of inmates and safety of correctional staff. Therefore, leaders and supervisors must regularly conduct the inspection of their housing unit, supervise safety and custody drill, and maintain order and cleanliness of the unit.

References

Gelfand, M. J., Leslie, L. M., Keller, K. & Dedreu, C. W. (2010). Cultures of conflict: How         leaders and members shape conflict cultures in organizations. Academy of Management           Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1–6. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the        Business Source Complete database.

Department of Public Safety, Office of Staff Development and Training. (2017). Prison    Emergencies: Prevention and Response (822 PartII). Office of Staff Development and          Training: Adult Correction In-Service Training. Retrieved from            http://internal.doc.state.nc.us/osdt/lesson-plans/2017-2018/DPS-308-2017.pdf