Changing The Role Of Detention Staff

The housing officer at Peumansend Creek Regional Jail is much more than a conventional detention officer. This housing officer is a facilitator of services, evaluator of inmate job performance, and serves as a primary conduit to classification staff and the inmate worker coordinator regarding the adjustment of the inmate. To accomplish all these tasks, the officer relies heavily on software systems.

Technology, a high priority at the facility, frees staff of routine tasks and delivers information on demand wherever it is needed. Intercoms link inmate rooms to the Housing Unit console and also to the Control Center. Rooms are opened by the console and backed up by keys.

Detention Officer security rounds are recorded by an electronic reader and then downloaded into a database system which provides automated reporting.

The officer must be competent in computer operation. Policy and procedures, post orders, master schedules, medical appointments, class rosters, job assignments, and more are accessed by the Housing Officer using a desktop computer connected to a local network. The officer also has access to all staff position descriptions, inmate job descriptions, staff handbook, inmate handbook, volunteer handbook, visitor information guide, safety manual, menus, and many other documents.

E-mail is available to each staff member to facilitate quick and efficient exchange of information.

When staff want to communicate verbally with other staff, especially supervisors, they can make use of the automated voice mail system.

An automated logbook entry system is currently being instituted.

Class attendance is recorded in the programs area by use of scanners. Each inmate is required to put his hand into a reader which records his identity for class attendance.

Tests are graded by using the scantron reader.

GED education is managed with the aid of a computer lab where progress is automatically recorded.

Using technology in these ways eliminates the need for traditional class rosters and grade books. And, as a bonus, managers are able to review a wealth of data in order to make more informed decisions.

Commissary forms are read by a scanner. The inmate's account is automatically debited when the order is provided to the inmate. The system prints a receipt for the inmate providing a timely account balance.

The jail management software system provides automated booking, housing, classification and medical assignments, and a digital imaging system. The reports generated allow management to keep track of trends in the institution.

A tracking system is also in place for inmate grievances and discipline issues, allowing management to monitor specific needs and identify trends.

The law library is provided on CDs, which saves space, is more cost effective than maintaining printed law books, and is much easier to update.