Lesson 1: Observing and Monitoring Inmates PDF

Lesson 1 Observing and Monitoring Inmates Lesson Goal You will be able to monitor inmates and recognize unusual occurrences in a correc- tional setting. Think About This Inmate Thompson has been a model inmate by following the facility rules, getting along well with other inmates, and general...

Lesson 1 Observing and Monitoring Inmates Lesson Goal You will be able to monitor inmates and recognize unusual occurrences in a correc- tional setting. Think About This Inmate Thompson has been a model inmate by following the facility rules, getting along well with other inmates, and generally seeming calm. The past few days, however, the inmate has been un- usually quiet and nervous. This morning, the inmate asks the supervising officer to be relocated to another day room. Should the officer be concerned? Is it worth their time to pay attention to these changes in behavior? Observation Skills ✅ CO601.1. Observe inmate activity in a correctional facility Your primary duties as a correctional officer are the care, custody, and control of inmates. Your ability to observe changes in the daily patterns and routines of your facility is an important skill in supervising inmates. Observation is being aware of your surroundings and paying close attention to details. Protect your personal safety and security by monitoring inmates at all times, such as when they enter or exit a housing area. Prevent potential threats and safety hazards to fellow offi- cers, staff, inmates, and the public by watching your surroundings. Observe behavioral patterns of inmates to decide if a situation is normal or if it requires action. Using the Senses The first stage of observation is monitoring inmate behavior using the primary senses of seeing, hearing, touching, and smelling. Using these senses helps you detect environmental changes in the facility. When you walk your rounds in your assigned section of the facility, look for any alterations or damage to property or equipment, listen for any changes to inmate conversations or noise, and notice any changes in the regular odors of the institution, such as smelling smoke. In the recreation yard, maintain a heightened awareness for any sudden changes in weather, any damage to the building or equipment outside, or any changes in behavior or tension among inmates. Changes in inmate behavior could include hearing a change in the noise level or observing improper contact between inmates or staff or a violation of inmate conduct, such as unauthorized dress, whistling, sexual comments, assaults, and escape attempts. Sense of Sight Watch the actions of inmates to observe changes in their behavior and surroundings, and to iden- tify missing items or damage to equipment and property. Chapter 6 Supervising in a Correctional Facility / 157 Inmates gathering in a group that keeps you from seeing what is going on could be dangerous. Disperse the group by making your presence known and giving the group verbal commands, such as telling them to break up and move on. Sense of Hearing Listening skills are an essential component of effective observation. You should be aware of the usual noises and noise levels in the facility. Changes in facility noises may indicate potential violations. It is normal for noise levels to increase when inmates are watching sporting events or participating in activities, but you should remain alert for signs of a threat. Listen to inmate communications for key words, slang, or changes in voice inflection. During sleeping hours, excessive or unusual noise might indicate a potential problem. For example, you must investigate any loud banging or scraping noises coming from a cell, screaming, crying, or repeated flushing of toilets. These sounds could be signs of a possible fight, sexual assault, the sharpening of a shank, or an escape attempt. Sense of Touch There are many ways that you will use your sense of touch to make sure that your facility is secured. You will perform searches of inmates, their cells, and their possessions. You should make a thorough and accurate search, both for your safety and as a procedure for your job. While you are making your rounds, check to see if doors are closed properly by testing the knobs or handles. Perform searches in common rooms, visitor rooms, and the dining hall. Wear gloves and other PPE while searching and feeling for contraband items with your hands. Sense of Smell Every institution has its own smell. It is a combination of industrial cleaners, laundry soap, cooking smells, and normal body odors from various inmates and staff. This smell will become familiar to you as you work in your facility. Be able to recognize the scents that do not belong in your everyday world, such as the smell of certain drugs, or of metal or wood shavings from an inmate fashioning a shank. There are other environmental scents you will recognize, such as the smell of a mattress that has been burned to distract you. Be safe and aware at all times. It is better to report an odd smell than ignoring it until it becomes a larger problem. Monitoring Inmate Behavior Unusual activity of inmates could be an indicator that a problem is occurring or about to occur. Suspicious activities or behaviors, such as slamming a door or locker, yelling, fighting, or faking an injury could be an attempt to distract you to commit a violation. You should assess the situation and determine if additional resources are needed. If there is a threat, immediately contact a supervisor and take required action. Remember to document the situation after it has been resolved safely. 158 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 ✅ CO601.2. Monitor inmate behavior in the housing area of a correctional facility You should monitor closely any changes in inmate behavior, especially in the housing area. These changes could be the result of personal stress, such as divorce, notification of a death in the family, loss of a work assignment, or receipt of charges. Paying attention to changes in the housing area can also alert you to possible illegal activities, such as escape plans or attempts. Indicators of a possible escape include an inaccurate inmate count, missing screws, broken windows, damaged toilets (for example, a toilet being separated from the wall), evidence of digging through walls or floors, or loose security bars. Other signs of a potential escape may be inmates hoarding excessive sheets or towels, maps of facilities and the surrounding area drawn on walls, the ground, or any paper products, coded messages in the mail, or finding visitors or other inmates in unauthorized areas. Incidents such as a fire or a medical emergency, grouping of inmates, or a staged fight might be used as distractions for escape attempts or other illegal activity. When inmates enter or exit the housing area, identify each inmate by photo ID, armband, or uniform color. Compare the identification method with the housing roster. The color of the uniform may reveal the inmate’s classification, work assignment, or housing location. For example, an inmate’s ID tag will confirm whether the inmate is authorized to be in that area. Make sure that inmates clean their living areas and practice personal hygiene to minimize health hazards. An inmate practicing poor personal hygiene can draw unwanted attention, causing conflict between inmates. Showers, toiletries, personal hygiene items, and uniforms are available to inmates. Make sure that inmates follow the established housing standards, showering schedules, and uniform guidelines. Inmates dressed according to agency policy make it easier to see concealed contraband or identify signs of security threat groups. Inmates may modify their uniforms by rolling up a pant leg, tying their shoes in a specific pattern, writing graffiti on clothes, and wearing clothes backward or inside out. An inmate’s appearance can also indicate a potential security risk; for example, an inmate wearing seasonally inappropriate clothing may be concealing contraband. Inmates may alter their physical appearance with tattoos, different hairstyles, and body piercings. These security violations must be addressed and documented. Surveillance Equipment Correctional facilities have blind spots, which are locations within a facility that have limited visibil- ity, such as corners, closets, doorways, the rear of inmate dorms, and stairwells. These are difficult for officers to monitor for inmate activity and may pose a security or safety concern. ✅ CO601.3. Know how surveillance equipment can help you monitor inmates in a correctional facility Surveillance equipment, such as video cameras, lighting, and convex wall mirrors, help you monitor daily operations within the facility. This equipment reduces blind spots and helps officers limit the introduction of contraband, observe illegal activities, and respond to incidents safely and quickly. Chapter 6 Supervising in a Correctional Facility / 159 Surveillance equipment can also provide visual and audio evidence to support documentation for incident reports, investigations, or any additional needs. Observing Unusual Occurrences An unusual occurrence is an incident that is out of the ordinary and disrupts the normal operation of the facility and routine daily activities. ✅ CO601.4. Know the unusual occurrences that can disrupt the normal operations of a correctional facility These incidents negatively affect the security of the facility, and include events such as: inmate or staff death inmate strikes (refusal to eat or work) serious injuries to inmate or staff riots suicide or attempted suicide hostage situations escapes or attempted escapes bomb threats or detonation criminal acts fire inability to clear inmate count disasters inmates fighting sexual assault use of force lost or missing equipment, particularly keys power or water outages at the facility Any incident can lead to a disturbance, provoking a response from other inmates, and possibly escalating to major disturbances or riots. Handle minor incidents immediately to avoid inmates taking matters into their own hands. When inmates seek revenge, sympathetic participants could join in the conflict, and a small, containable incident can quickly grow out of control. Look for indi- cators of an impending disturbance or riot and take proactive measures to prevent these incidents from occurring. Signs of Potential Disturbances ✅ CO601.5. Know the indicators of a potential disturbance in a correctional facility Indicators of potential disturbances include when inmates: gather in a particular area stay in their cells request to be transferred or moved 160 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1  become more violent with each other act out to be placed in special protection or isolation have low morale avoid areas where large numbers of other inmates gather store food warn staff to stay home on particular days increase in security threat group-related activities have more weapons found in searches who are informants share information separate more often along racial or ethnic lines make specific demands Also avoid the distraction of long conversations, as this could be a diversion for inappropriate behav- ior in another area. Proactive intervention begins with being aware of surroundings and changes in inmate behaviors, dress, and social groupings. Examples may include: Inmates wearing boots during showers and at night may indicate the occurrence of an incident. Magazines under shirts may indicate an inmate expects being stabbed or hit. Hoarding items from the commissary may indicate an inmate expects being placed in lockdown. An increase in requests for protection or “check-in” may indicate fear of being attacked. An increase or decrease in the normal activity or sounds of the facility may indicate a riot or escape is likely. Report these behaviors to your shift supervisor at once, call for backup if appropriate, and take immediate action to isolate the developing incident. Chapter 6 Supervising in a Correctional Facility / 161 Documentation ✅ CO601.6. Know when to document usual and unusual occurrences that happen in a correctional facility Officers use logs, report forms, and video recordings to document facility operations, daily activities, and unusual occurrences. Completing accurate documentation is essential for safety, security, and accountability. Examples of usual and unusual occurrences that need to be documented include: inmate counts escapes or attempted escapes fights security checks meals workgroup assignments suicide attempts sexual assaults sick call court appearances fire use of force cell searches visitation natural disasters bomb threats clinical visits transports riots medical and mental emergencies Written reports keep the facility staff informed about developments and problem areas. It is partic- ularly important to document inmate movement, such as moving inmates between dorms and the dining hall or to and from medical and visitation. This documentation helps verify counts and work assignments. Use forms and logs to document inmate movement, taking care to note any incidents. 162 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1