Chapter 5 - Shift Management and Safety

What are correctional officers tasked with doing everday?

Maintaining order and security.

Why is it important for officers to be mentally alert, engaged, and proactive in their duties?

Because their responsibilities carry a lot of weight as they protect not only themselves but other facility staff, inmates, and visitors as well.

What helps officers anticipate and quickly respond to any threats to security?

Being able to accurately assess the situation around them.

Why is it important for officers to practice situational awareness?

Practicing situational awareness helps officers respond quickly to threats and maintain security.

What is situational awareness?

The ability to pay attention to your surroundings, process what you observe, and make sound decisions based on your observations.

What is a major component of maintaining security?

Having situational awareness.

What is complacency?

A comfortable or relaxed state of mind, which lulls you into a false sense of safety and security.

What happens when officers are complacent?

When officers are complacent, they may not be aware of what is happening or what could happen in any given situation.

What is the difference between situational awareness and hypervigilance?

Hypervigilance is a symptom of PTSD and results in poor decision-making whereas situational awareness is a skill that results in sound-decision making.

What are the 3 primary steps to situational awareness?

Observe, understand, and decide.

How do officers observe situations or environments?

By using their senses and always being aware of what is going on all around them while scanning the area and listening and paying attention to sounds and voices.

How do officers understand situations or environments?

By thinking about what appears to be typical or out of the ordinary.

When do officers decide and make decisions in situations or environments?

After observing and understanding a situation, an officer would decide if any action needs to be taken.

What helps officers make good decisions based on their observations and knowledge?

Situational awareness.

Why is it important for officers to focus on being situationally aware?

When officers focus on being situationally aware, they make conscious efforts to make decisions based on information rather than on fear.

How does having the proper positioning, posture, and controlled behavior enhance situational awareness?

Good situational awareness can be enhanced with proper positioning, posture, and controlled behavior by providing you with a tactical advantage.

What is positioning?

Positioning is placing yourself in a tactically advantageous location to observe an area.

What does positioning allow officers to do?

Positioning allows officers to size up a situation while remaining in a safe place.

Positioning involves 3 things. What are they?

Keeping a safe distance, being familiar with your environment, and watching groups and individual people.

What is posture?

Holding your body in a manner that shows strength, confidence, interest, and control.

What includes using command presence to project an image of confidence in your skills and abilities?

Posture

What could happen if an officers appearance lacks confidence?

If an officer appears to lack confidence, inmates may attempt to manipulate or deceive you.

How do officers practice controlled behavior?

By demonstrating confidence and control while avoiding distracting behaviors such as nail biting, foot tapping, fidgeting, etc.

What can officers do if they are having a difficult time with disengaging, disconnecting, and dropping their level of situational awareness?

Officers can focus on their breathing by taking some deep breaths for a few minutes. In doing so, their attention will be taken away from noticing what is happening around them.

What does taking the time to disengage help officers do?

Taking the time to disengage helps prepare officers for when they do need to maintain a high level of situational awareness.

What is a major responsibility of a correctional officer?

Identifying and properly accounting for inventory as well as issuing and storing equipment.

Why must officers know how to safely operate various types of equipment?

Knowing how to safely operate equipment helps officers know if the equipment is functional.

What are the 2 types of equipment and accessories that can be issued to officers?

Security equipment and housing equipment.

What happens to equipment that isn’t inspected periodically?

If not inspected periodically, equipment may begin to show signs of neglect.

What can neglected, poorly maintained, and improperly inspected equipment result in?

Neglected, poorly maintained, and improperly inspected equipment can result in damaged equipment, malfunctions, and injury or death.

Which three things are typically checked during an equipment inspection?

The functionality of the equipment, the accuracy of serial or identification numbers, and expiration dates.

Why is it important that automatic external defibrillators (AED’s), fire extinguishers, batteries, and handcuffs are inspected?

AED’S, fire extinguishers, batteries, and handcuffs must be inspected in order to determine that they are functioning properly.

Why is it important for officers to cautiously inspect their own equipment?

This ensures that the officers’ equipment is safe and working properly.

What can mishandling equipment result in?

Mishandling equipment can result in injury to an officer or inmate, or damage to the equipment.

Identify 3 ways that equipment can be mishandled?

Incorrectly identifying equipment, not using equipment for its intended purpose, and using equipment without proper training.

Identify 1 of the 3 most common steps to issuing equipment?

Verifying the person receiving the item by checking ID cards or digital databases.

What might officers need to do when items are received back into inventory?

Officers may need to document the condition of the equipment, and the receipt of the items.

What is inventorying?

The process of compiling a complete list of tools or equipment on hand.

Identify 4 types of common equipment that should be inventoried.

Building equipment, sanitation equipment, healthcare equipment, and food service equipment.

What is an important part of inventory procedures?

Counting equipment.

What must officers do in order to count equipment efficiently?

Organize the equipment so that it is easy to use.

What should officers do before counting equipment?

Officers should have an orderly method or plan to physically count items, such as laying items out in order or grouping similar items together.

What should officers do with items that cannot be grouped together?

Officers should keep track of items that cannot be grouped together. (Heavy equipment, sensitive supplies, etc.)

Why is it important for officers to always keep track of their progress and record their official inventory count?

What should officers do with the number of items previously listed in their inventory?

Compare the number of items previously listed in the inventory against the actual number of items you count.

Identify 2 of the 5 inventory control techniques for identification:

Etching the inventory control number on the tool, and comparing the tool markings with recorded facility markings.

Which 3 things are used for inventory control and documentation?

Logs, inventory sheets, and electronic databases.

Why is it important for officers to maintain accurate logs during inventory?

Maintaining accurate logs during inventory is important for identifying the location of equipment.

When are logs reviewed, and why are they reviewed?

Logs are commonly reviewed before, during, and after shifts in order to verify what equipment has been issued.

What do logs allow officers to do?

Logs allow officers to identify when an item is missing or when an item has been issued, replaced, or repaired.

How does a correctional facility determine how responsibilities are assigned for inventory control?

By shift, area, job assignment, or equipment type.

What should officers do with the documentation used in inventory and storage processes?

Officers must catalog and preserve the documentation used in inventory and storage processes.

Why should officers retain forms and logs?

Officers should retain forms and logs so that they are available for later review and for public record.

Which 2 things may document items in the inventory that are issued or returned?

A master inventory log or a daily inventory sheet.

What are correctional officers responsible for regarding equipment?

Correctional officers are responsible for properly storing all equipment in their care and control.

What could happen if officers are not paying attention?

Items can be stolen and used to aid in an escape or assault.

Identify 6 types of equipment that inmates could use in escapes or assaults.

Tools, chemical agents, electronic control devices, restraint devices, or other impact weapons.

Where should officers store equipment?

Officers should always store equipment in secure, designated areas with access limited to authorized personnel.

Identify some of the secured storage areas typically found in a correctional facility.

An armory, a mini arsenal, a caustic chemicals locker, a master tool room, a tool cage, an exterior building, or any designated room within the facility.

What should officers do with equipment immediately after inventory?

Officers should store the equipment in its proper area to preserve the integrity of the inventory and ensure that the equipment is ready for reissue, and to ensure security.

What is true about where items are stored?

Items are stored based on the type of equipment and facility resources available.

Why should officers consider tools that are automated, sharp, heavy, or awkward to manipulate dangerous?

Because inmates may use these hazardous tools under staff supervision when completing work assignments.

Why are officers responsible for tool and equipment control for safety reasons?

Because inmates can use these tools to commit a crime such as assault, to damage the facility, or to aid in an escape.

Identify Two Examples of Hazardous Equipment:

Culinary instruments and power tools.

Why must officers be vigilant when dealing with hazardous equipment?

To ensure the safety of the facility.

What must always be provided when equipment is transported and in use?

Direct supervision.

What are less lethal weapons?

Weapons designed to incapacitate a person rather than apply deadly force.

Identify 4 examples of less lethal weapons:

Dart-firing stun guns (DFSG), conducted electrical weapons (CEW), chemical weapons, and impact weapons.

When are correctional officers permitted to carry a firearm when on duty?

Correctional officers cannot carry firearms while on duty inside of a correctional facility unless there is an emergency and command has approved the issuance of firearms.

What are officers required to do if they are issued firearms and ammunition to be carried outside of a facility while in the performance of official duties or while off duty?

If officers are issued firearms and ammunition, they are required to secure these in designated storage areas or secured lockers when entering the facility.

What must officers do if they have a firearm secured at their facility?

Officers must retrieve their firearms before they leave.

Identify 3 procedures that facilities have in place when issuing firearms:

Officer identity verification, detail documentation, and a safety check of the firearms and ammunition issued.

What is one of the most important pieces of equipment that a correctional officer uses?

A radio.

Why is it important for officers to understand how to use a radio properly while also ensuring that they are communicating professionally?

Because radios are the primary method of transmitting vital information while on duty.

Why do officers use radios?

Officers use radios to send and receive vital information while on duty.

Identify 4 examples of radio use:

Calling for assistance, identifying inmates and visitors, participating in general communication, and notifying staff of an emergency.

What are officers responsible for once they are issued a radio?

Once an officer is issued a radio, it is their responsibility to ensure that it is operational.

What should officers do if they experience radio transmission difficulties?

Immediately use a landline telephone to report the malfunction.

What is the primary method of communication for correctional officers?

The portable radio.

Identify 3 of the 9 things that The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibits the radiologic use of:

Transmitting non-essential or excessive signals, messages, or communication, using profane, indecent, or obscene language, and transmitting before the air is clear.

What should officers do before transmitting on the portable radio system?

When using the portable radio system, officers should plan their message before transmission.

How should officers convey their messages on the radio?

Brief, clear, and simple.

What does planning a message help with?

The more an officer plans a message, the more coherent and professional the communication will be.

Which two things should officers do before transmitting a message?

Plan the message and listen to make sure there is no other radio traffic.

How long should the transmit button be held before speaking into the radio?

Press and hold the transmit button for about one second before speaking.

Before speaking into the radio, how far should an officers mouth be from the microphone?

One to three inches away from the microphone while speaking directly into it.

What might happen to an officers voice during stressful situations that can make their radio message difficult to understand?

In stressful situations, an officer’s voice may crack, become distorted, or high-pitched.

Identify 4 things that assist with effective radio transmission:

Officers must be proficient on the radio, speak slowly and distinctly, use an evenly controlled tone of voice, and avoid the display of emotions.

What is a cue that something is going wrong?

A significant change in voice or tone of the transmitting officer.

Identify 3 of the 5 pieces of information that officers should keep in mind to keep radio communication professional:

Make sure your portable radio is always secure on your person, keep radio volume loud enough that you can continuously listen for incoming information, and keep radio chatter to a minimum in order to keep channels open for use.

Which 2 things should an officer never do over the radio?

Officers should never yell or communicate confidential information over the radio.

What are the 3 types of radio equipment?

The handheld or portable radio, the radio base station, and the mobile radio.

Where is the radio base station?

The control room.

What are signals?

A system of communication using numbers that are preceded by the word signal.

What is the phonetic alphabet?

A system of verbal communication using the letters of the English alphabet only.

What are the 10 or numeric codes?

A system of communication by which “10” precedes numbers that stand for specific activities. (Ex: 10-44, 10-9, 10-24)

What are numeric-alpha codes?

A system of communication that combines numbers and letters of the alphabet, or the combination of some or all of the above to transmit messages.

Which 2 things are radio base stations typically associated with?

Radio base stations are typically associated with correctional control room operations or the command center in case of an emergency.

What do radio base station operators do?

Radio base station operators send and receive messages to and from officers, and monitor radio frequencies for all operational units.

What do radio base station operators have the ability to do?

Radio base station operators have the ability to override the portable radio system in an emergency.