Chapter-3_Lesson-1.pdf

Lesson 1 Safety and Security Lesson Goal You will demonstrate situational awareness at all times while on duty to minimize threats to yourself and your facility. Think About This You face many dangers working in a correctional facility. You must, therefore, continually stay alert. Use your se...

Lesson 1 Safety and Security Lesson Goal You will demonstrate situational awareness at all times while on duty to minimize threats to yourself and your facility. Think About This You face many dangers working in a correctional facility. You must, therefore, continually stay alert. Use your senses to study your work environment for threats to you, to others, or to the facil- ity. This lesson will help you understand safety concerns at work, know your work environment, and apply situational awareness in your daily assignments. As a correctional officer, you represent one of the most important resources available to any correc- tional agency. You will be the front line for your facility and will be responsible for supervision of inmate activities, enforcement of rules and regulations, and maintaining order in the facility. Your responsibilities will carry a lot of weight as you protect not only yourself, but the safety of other facility staff, inmates, and the public. This chapter provides an overview of safety and security including identification, manipulation and deception, contraband, and searches. You must be engaged, remain mentally alert, and proactive. Safety Hazards and Security Concerns Recall the concept of command presence from Chapter 2. Safety and security begin with a profes- sional attitude. You should come to work well-rested and physically ready to perform your duties. Coming to work prepared creates a safe and professional work environment. Avoid missing work if at all possible. When you miss a shift, someone else will have to cover it. This means fewer offi- cers will be available to watch inmates and respond to an emergency. ✅ CO301.1. Understand the personal safety and security concerns for a correctional officer Another aspect of an officer’s preparation is being in good physical shape. The duties of a correc- tional officer are often physically demanding. Maintain good physical health by eating a balanced diet and exercising daily. Lack of stamina, agility, and mobility can hinder your ability to protect yourself, as well as staff and visitors. For example, you may have to sprint long distances or climb flights of stairs and still be able to control a combative inmate successfully or assist in other emer- gency situations. Always project a confident, competent, and capable demeanor. This sends a message to inmates that you can handle any situation. Practice good communication and listening skills to avoid conflict as much as possible. Treat each inmate with respect. For example, if an inmate or visitor approaches you with a request, remember that they are people and have needs. Handle each situation fairly, firmly, and consistently, while remaining professional. Chapter 3 Officer Safety / 83 Inmates may challenge your authority by committing minor infractions. Address violations profes- sionally and according to your agency’s policy. Failure to do so may result in inmates’ behavior escalating into more serious problems, both for you and the other inmates. Avoid being complacent. Complacency is a comfortable or relaxed state of mind that lulls you into a false sense of safety and security. When complacent, you may not be aware of what is happen- ing or what could happen in any given situation. Failure to be alert can jeopardize the safety of the officer, inmate, visitors, and general public, and the facility’s security. Stress can affect your focus and attention to detail, which can negatively influence decision-making. All officers will experience some level of job-related stress such as fear, intimidation, and anxiety. For example, being the only officer assigned to a dormitory that houses 80 inmates is a stressful situation. You can minimize stress with proper training, knowledge of policies and procedures, and familiarity with various inmate behaviors. Knowledge of policies and procedures will help keep staff, visitors, and inmates safe. ✅ CO301.2. Know the categories of stress that can influence your safety Four categories of stress an officer may experience are: environmental—weather, noise levels, lighting conditions, crowded areas personal—family issues, health, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, financial situation, academic demands work-related—shift work, supervisors, co-workers, contact with the general public, court appearances, performance standards self-induced—personal attitudes toward work, perception of others, work or academic goals Personal stress can be particularly distracting. A number of factors outside work can affect an offi- cer’s focus. Make an effort to leave your personal life at home when you begin a shift. This will help you stay focused on the safety of the public, staff, and inmates and on maintaining a secure facility. Situational Awareness Situational awareness refers to the ability to pay attention to what is going on around you; it is a state of mental responsiveness. ✅ CO301.3. Know the stages of situational awareness Situational awareness in a correctional setting occurs in three stages: 1. Being alert—be aware of what is going on around you at all times. Pay attention to sights and sounds to help maintain a high level of alertness. For example, when walking through a dormitory area, be aware of people behind you as you take in your surroundings. Mentally visualize where a threat may appear and the options you have for responding to any potential threat. 2. Identifying a potential threat—concentrate on possible threats while remaining aware of your surroundings. This stage can occur several times during a shift. For example, while you 84 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1  are assigned to the recreation yard, a group of inmates suddenly and quickly approaches you for unknown reasons. You should observe body language, verbal tone, or any other threatening demeanor of the group. 3. Responding to a threat—focus your attention on potential threats while maintaining intense concentration and avoiding tunnel vision, which is when your attention and field of view narrow because of stress. In response to an actual threat, you should be mentally ahead of the threat and take appropriate action. Questions you may ask yourself to evaluate a situation include: What does the inmate’s body stance, posture, or positioning show? What does the inmate’s facial expression show? Is the inmate physically reaching for something or someone? Is there a communication barrier? What do the tone, volume, and pitch of the inmate’s voice show? What response is appropriate for the situation? Could other inmates become involved? Is assistance available? Do I need backup from other personnel? How long will it take for backup to arrive? Is the area defensible? ✅ CO301.4. Demonstrate the four basic skills you can use in evaluating a situation You should consider the use of positioning, posture, observing, and listening when evaluating a situation for threats. Positioning is placing yourself in a tactically advantageous location to observe an area. Positioning allows you to size up a situation while remaining in a safe place. Positioning includes: Keeping a safe distance—distance yourself far enough away to be safe but close enough to observe what is happening. What is considered a safe distance in a correctional setting will vary depending on the size of the location, and the behavior and number of inmates. Assess the situation to determine a safe distance. Being familiar with your environment—know the layout of the facility and plan the best possible positioning and escape route before entering an area. Areas that are large or house large numbers of inmates may require you to move around throughout your shift. Avoid establishing a set pattern—if inmates can predict what position you will take, they may be able to gain a tactical advantage. Watching groups and individuals—place yourself in a position where you can see and hear what is going on around you. Being in a good position allows you to pay attention to what Chapter 3 Officer Safety / 85  is being said and lets inmates know you are paying attention to them. Always face inmates when speaking with them, because it allows you to use your peripheral vision to monitor activities. When you watch them closely, inmates are less likely to commit rule violations or cause minor problems. By closely observing inmates, you can pick up on important non-verbal cues and body language. Constantly scan the area for potential threats even when watching inmates. Posture is holding your body in a manner that shows strength, confidence, interest, and control. Posture includes using command presence to project an image of confidence in your skills and abili- ties. If you appear to lack confidence, inmates will attempt to manipulate or deceive you. Practice controlled behavior by demonstrating confidence and control and avoiding such distract- ing behaviors as foot tapping, nail biting, and fidgeting. Observing is another skill of situational awareness. Observing is being aware of any occurrence or activity, such as irregular mood changes, emotional outbursts, acting out, threatening behavior, or changes in inmate energy levels, that may signify safety and security problems. Examples of things you may observe include: an inmate uniform worn incorrectly—misplaced identification, untied shoe, belt hanging to the right or left, one pant leg rolled up physical condition of inmate—limping, bruises, bloody nose physical structures during inspection or search—broken window, graffiti on wall Active listening is a learned skill that you should use to quickly determine the context, threat, and relevance of events unfolding around you. Be sure to pay attention to volume, pitch, tone, and inflec- tion. Listen for key and inflammatory words that could indicate trouble, and never allow personal judgment and prejudice toward an inmate to obscure your listening abilities. ✅ CO301.5. Demonstrate effective situational awareness skills By applying situational awareness, you will always be alert for potential threats, and rapidly respond to incidents before they escalate beyond control. An example would be two inmates beginning an argument, and an officer intervening before a physical altercation begins, thus preserving safety. 86 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1