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SECURITY IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

NCJ Number
39976
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM PRESENTS THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF PRISON SECURITY PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY CORRECTIONS OFFICERS SO THAT THEY MAY ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO ESCAPES, NO CONTRABAND, AND NO DISORDER.
Abstract
TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT EVERY CORRECTIONS OFFICER MUST BE AWARE OF ARE; 'DO I KNOW THE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES OF MY INSTITUTION?' AND 'AM I DEVIATING FROM THOSE PROCEDURES?' THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR INMATES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF BECAUSE IT DETERMINES THE INMATE ENVIRONMENT. THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT IS VITAL IF SECURITY IS TO BE MAINTAINED. THE MAIN RULE ABOUT INSPECTIONS IS 'BE THOROUGH.' TOOL AND UTENSIL CONTROL IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. CONTINGENCY PLANS MUST BE DEVISED BY EVERY OFFICER. HE MUST KNOW AREAS OF SAFETY, POTENTIAL SHIELDS, DOORS, AND WHERE HE CAN EXPECT HELP. A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF HIS JOB AND SELF EVALUATIONS VIS-A-VIS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB ARE CONTINUALLY IN ORDER. THE FIREARMS CONTROL PROCEDURES MUST BE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD. IN GENERAL, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS SHOULD USE THEIR WEAPONS ONLY AFTER WARNINGS, ONLY AS A LAST RESORT, AND NEVER TO KILL. KEY CONTROL MUST BE STRICTLY ENFORCED AS INMATES ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET HOLD OF KEYS. INMATE COUNTS MUST BE CORRECT EVERY TIME. THE SAME RULES APPLY TO BOTH PERSONAL SEARCHES AND AREA SEARCHES - BE SYSTEMATIC AND BE OBJECTIVE. FINALLY, EVERY OFFICER SHOULD BE AWARE OF HIS INSTITUTION'S EMERGENCY PLANS. THE POINTS BROUGHT OUT DURING THE FILM ARE SUCCINCTLY RESTATED AT THE END.