2008 In-Service Training

PROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM

for DETENTION for DETENTION OFFICERSOFFICERS

NC Detention Officer StatisticsNC Detention Officer Statistics

1996 – 20061996 – 2006

Average Certified Detention population in North CarolinaAverage Certified Detention population in North Carolina6,5496,549

Yearly Average Yearly Average

3737

Statistics provided by DOJ Training and Standards1996 – 20061996 – 2006

Total number of North Carolina Detention Officers who Total number of North Carolina Detention Officers who have had their certifications revoked, suspended, or have had their certifications revoked, suspended, or

been denied certificationbeen denied certification370370

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

1. 1. Analyze the decision making process as it applies Analyze the decision making process as it applies to the professionalism of a detention officer.to the professionalism of a detention officer.

2. 2. Determine how making good and bad decisions at Determine how making good and bad decisions at work and away from work can be related to the work and away from work can be related to the professionalism of a detention officer.professionalism of a detention officer.

3.3. Differentiate ways in which the ideology of Differentiate ways in which the ideology of groupthink can affect an officer’s career as a groupthink can affect an officer’s career as a detention officer.detention officer.

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

4.4. Explain how policy and procedures and general Explain how policy and procedures and general orders can create a professional environment in a orders can create a professional environment in a detention facility.detention facility.

5.5. Illustrate the elements involved in creating a Illustrate the elements involved in creating a professional environment in the detention facility, professional environment in the detention facility, including prevention of sexual harassment, including prevention of sexual harassment, unethical behavior, entitlement mindset, and unethical behavior, entitlement mindset, and negative attitudes.negative attitudes.

6.6. Identify character traits that are commonly Identify character traits that are commonly associated with a professional detention officer.associated with a professional detention officer.

ProfessionalismProfessionalism

Behavior and attitude Behavior and attitude patterns exhibiting patterns exhibiting standards and character standards and character marked by pride in oneself marked by pride in oneself and one’s chosen career; and one’s chosen career; respect for the people respect for the people served and commitment to served and commitment to the continued development the continued development of skill in the pursuit of of skill in the pursuit of excellence.excellence.

Defined:Defined:

CASE STUDY #1CASE STUDY #1

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Decision Making ProcessDecision Making Process

Defined:Defined: The actual thinking process The actual thinking process that occurs when a person that occurs when a person is faced with having to is faced with having to decide on a specific course decide on a specific course of action of action

Some are clear-cut and Some are clear-cut and easyeasy

Some not so easy due Some not so easy due to extenuating to extenuating circumstances or lack of circumstances or lack of knowledgeknowledge

Influences on Decision MakingInfluences on Decision Making

Various aspects of our lives impact and influence Various aspects of our lives impact and influence our thinking and decision making processour thinking and decision making process

1. Family

2. Church

3. Neighborhood and friends

4. Schooling and education level

5. Work environment

6. Our city and/or nation

Decision Making ModelsDecision Making Models

BELL

BOOK

CANDLE

Bell, Book, and CandleBell, Book, and Candle

Does it sound right?Does it sound right?

Does it violate a Does it violate a law or general law or general order?order?

How will it look when exposed How will it look when exposed to the light of day?to the light of day?

Decision Making ModelsDecision Making ModelsBlanchard and Peale’s Ethics CheckBlanchard and Peale’s Ethics Check

1.1. Is my action legal?Is my action legal?

2.2. Is the action fair and balanced for all Is the action fair and balanced for all concerned?concerned?

3.3. How will I feel about myself if the public How will I feel about myself if the public knew of my decision?knew of my decision?

CASE STUDY #2CASE STUDY #2

Good Decisions at WorkGood Decisions at Work

1.1. Possible promotionPossible promotion2.2. Respect from fellow Respect from fellow

officers and inmatesofficers and inmates3.3. Consistency in the Consistency in the

performance of dutiesperformance of duties4.4. Good reputationGood reputation5.5. Supervisory support Supervisory support

against false or against false or questionable allegations questionable allegations from inmatesfrom inmates

Examples of what good Examples of what good decisions can lead to:decisions can lead to:

Bad Decisions at WorkBad Decisions at Work

1.1. Dismissal, suspension, or Dismissal, suspension, or decertificationdecertification

2.2. Poor reputationPoor reputation

3.3. Increased scrutiny by supervisorsIncreased scrutiny by supervisors

4.4. Poor evaluations resulting in less Poor evaluations resulting in less merit raisesmerit raises

5.5. More susceptible to inmate con More susceptible to inmate con gamesgames

Examples of what bad decisions can lead to:Examples of what bad decisions can lead to:

Effects of Actions Effects of Actions AWAYAWAY from Work from Work

*Jack Azzaretto from the University of California*Jack Azzaretto from the University of California

The public feels empowered to The public feels empowered to have a right to know, because have a right to know, because of “Public Trust.” of “Public Trust.”

““We judge other people by We judge other people by their actions, but we judge their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intent.” *ourselves by our intent.” *

When it comes to trust When it comes to trust perception is reality.perception is reality.

““Perception equals Reality”Perception equals Reality”

Reflections of Our ActionsReflections of Our Actions

It is paramount to remember that our actions It is paramount to remember that our actions do not just reflect upon us as individuals, but do not just reflect upon us as individuals, but they reflect on many others as well:they reflect on many others as well:

1.1. SelfSelf

2.2. AgencyAgency

3.3. FamilyFamily

4.4. Neighbors and friendsNeighbors and friends

5.5. Community and child’s schoolCommunity and child’s school

GROUPTHINKGROUPTHINK

A mentality in A mentality in which the cohesion which the cohesion of the group of the group becomes more becomes more important than important than good professional good professional and ethical and ethical decision making.decision making.

Signs and Symptoms of GroupthinkSigns and Symptoms of Groupthink

Illusions of invulnerability in which the Illusions of invulnerability in which the group can do no wrong.group can do no wrong.

Collective efforts to rationalize or Collective efforts to rationalize or discount warnings.discount warnings.

Pressure to conform and not express Pressure to conform and not express one’s own views.one’s own views.

Signs and Symptoms of GroupthinkSigns and Symptoms of Groupthink

Stereotyped views that guide decision Stereotyped views that guide decision making or an “Us vs. Them” mentality.making or an “Us vs. Them” mentality.

A shared illusion of unanimity (everyone A shared illusion of unanimity (everyone always agrees).always agrees).

CASE STUDY #3CASE STUDY #3

Policy and ProceduresPolicy and Procedures

Policy and Procedures along with General Orders don’t just protect the Policy and Procedures along with General Orders don’t just protect the agency...agency...

They can protect the officer as well !!!!They can protect the officer as well !!!!

Unfortunately, we usually don’t think about Unfortunately, we usually don’t think about that fact in relation to these documents.that fact in relation to these documents.

Protection Through General Protection Through General OrdersOrders

General Orders give the officer:General Orders give the officer:

1.1. A sense of structure in his work day.A sense of structure in his work day.

2.2. Guidelines in which to perform his daily duties. Guidelines in which to perform his daily duties.

3.3. The agency’s expectations of his/her performance The agency’s expectations of his/her performance and behavior.and behavior.

4.4. Guidance in how to handle most situations on the Guidance in how to handle most situations on the job. job.

5.5. Strength and reassurance when making difficult Strength and reassurance when making difficult decisions especially those unpopular with inmates. decisions especially those unpopular with inmates.

Inmate HandbookInmate HandbookWhen in place in a detention facility, the inmate When in place in a detention facility, the inmate

handbook:handbook:

1.1. Serves as the mandate which inmates must live by Serves as the mandate which inmates must live by while in the facility.while in the facility.

2.2. Explains the consequences for improper inmate Explains the consequences for improper inmate behavior.behavior.

3.3. Assists the detention officer in decision making with Assists the detention officer in decision making with added structure and justification.added structure and justification.

4.4. Can minimize complaints against detention officers Can minimize complaints against detention officers and establish a good professional persona.and establish a good professional persona.

CASE STUDY #4CASE STUDY #4

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Elements that Create Elements that Create a Professional a Professional EnvironmentEnvironment

1.1. EducateEducate

2.2. TrainingTraining

3.3. Lead by example (Top-down model)Lead by example (Top-down model)

4.4. Strong reactions to policy infractionsStrong reactions to policy infractions

There are four primary elements used to create a There are four primary elements used to create a professional environment in the workplace.professional environment in the workplace.

Professional Character TraitsProfessional Character Traits

Clean, neat, and pressed uniform and Clean, neat, and pressed uniform and appearance.appearance.

Always on-time to work and has a pleasant Always on-time to work and has a pleasant attitude.attitude.

Knows policy and procedures, general Knows policy and procedures, general orders, and follows them.orders, and follows them.

Shows good moral and ethical decision Shows good moral and ethical decision making on the job.making on the job.

Willing to share their knowledge to help fellow Willing to share their knowledge to help fellow officers improve.officers improve.

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

1. 1. Analyze the decision making process as it applies Analyze the decision making process as it applies to the professionalism of a detention officer.to the professionalism of a detention officer.

2. 2. Determine how making good and bad decisions at Determine how making good and bad decisions at work and away from work can be related to the work and away from work can be related to the professionalism of a detention officer.professionalism of a detention officer.

3.3. Differentiate ways in which the ideology of Differentiate ways in which the ideology of groupthink can affect an officer’s career as a groupthink can affect an officer’s career as a detention officer.detention officer.

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

4.4. Explain how policy and procedures and general Explain how policy and procedures and general orders can create a professional environment in a orders can create a professional environment in a detention facility.detention facility.

5.5. Illustrate the elements involved in creating a Illustrate the elements involved in creating a professional environment in the detention facility, professional environment in the detention facility, including prevention of sexual harassment, including prevention of sexual harassment, unethical behavior, entitlement mindset, and unethical behavior, entitlement mindset, and negative attitudes.negative attitudes.

6.6. Identify character traits that are commonly Identify character traits that are commonly associated with a professional detention officer.associated with a professional detention officer.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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“Society may often forget about the gatekeeper known only as a detention officer, but what would society do without him at that gate.”