CT_March-April_2022_Mag_Web

Policies and Resolutions

PUBLIC CORRECTIONAL POLICY ON CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT 1987-1 Introduction: Juvenile and adult correctional systems must provide services and programs in an environment that promotes and protects public safety and the safety, rights and dignity of staff, volunteers, vic- tims and those persons served by these systems. Policy Statement: Sustaining safe, secure and constitutionally acceptable conditions of confinement requires adequate resources and effective management of staff, operational procedures, programs, the physi- cal plant and the offender population. To support safe, secure and constitutionally acceptable condi- tions, agencies should: A. Establish and maintain a safe and humane population limit for each facility and hous- ing unit therein based upon recognized professional standards; B. Provide an environment that will support the health and safety of staff, volunteers and confined persons. Such an environment results from appropriate design, construction

of offenders in a climate that encourages responsible behavior and positive change. This Public Correctional Policy was unani- mously ratified by the American Correctional Association Delegate Assembly at the Congress of Correction in New Orleans, Aug. 6, 1987. It was last reviewed and reaffirmed at the 2017 Winter Conference in San Antonio, TX, January 24, 2017. PUBLIC CORRECTIONAL POLICY ON EMPLOYMENT OF OFFENDERS 1987-3 Introduction: Obtaining and maintaining employment are critical steps toward offenders’ successful comple- tion of correctional supervision. The involvement of government, business, and volunteer agen- cies and organizations is essential in making employment opportunities available. Offenders provide valuable manpower to help fill gaps in the workforce. Policy Statement: Offenders should be given equitable consid- eration for employment. Correctional agencies should: A. Implement and promote programs that will help offenders to prepare for, seek and retain gainful employment in the community; B. Develop and implement social skills training that provide offenders with skills needed to work well with others in the workplace and to become valued workers; C. Develop and implement a policy permitting qualified ex-offenders to be employed in correctional agencies in capacities that pre- serve the security and public safety mission of those agencies;

2022 Winter Conference and maintenance of the physical plant as well as the effective and efficient operation of the facility and the provision of adequate and appropriate services for offenders; C. Maintain a professional and accountable

work environment for staff that includes job- specific training and supervision, sufficient staffing and effective deployment of staff to carry out the mission of the facility; and D. Maintain a fair and structured environ- ment that provides a range of gender- and culturally-responsive programs and services appropriate to the needs and requirements

58 — May/June 2022 Corrections Today