Corrections_Today_Spring_2026_Vol.88_No.1

INNOVATION

Laying the groundwork for change Long before the Lone Worker Program officially launched in February 2025, Florida Community Corrections had already begun confronting a hard truth that the systems in place to protect officers in the field were not keeping pace with the demands of the job. Traditional safety methods like manual check-ins by phone or text were inconsistent, vulnerable to over sight and too reliant on human memory in moments when timing was everything. Leadership knew that in a high-risk environment, a single missed call or forgotten check-in could mean the difference between life and tragedy. Recognizing this gap, the department quietly began an urgent transformation. Teams examined every angle of officer safety, researched emerging technologies, tested app-based tools and studied how other industries man aged the risks of working alone. The goal was not to create a temporary fix, but to build a durable, statewide solution that could protect every field officer, every shift, in every location. They envisioned a system that could automatically detect when officers began their work in the field, pro vide timely reminders if activation was missed, escalate alerts when something went wrong and give supervisors real-time visibility into the field. Most importantly, they sought to ensure that no officer would ever truly be alone. That vision ultimately became the Lone Worker

automatically detects when an officer leaves the office in a state vehicle and sends a prompt to start their Lone Worker session, significantly reducing the risk of unmonitored shifts. The pilot also included a structured survey and in depth interviews with participating officers. Of the 89 staff members polled, 98% expressed confidence that help would arrive if needed, and 100% reported feeling safer in the community while using the system. Officers spoke openly about how the technology changed the way they approached the job. High Risk Specialist Mariah Harrington explained, “The app gives me peace of mind knowing that if some thing happens, someone will know exactly where I am and can get me help fast.” High Risk Specialist Daryll Womack added, “It changes the way you approach the job. You feel backed up, like someone’s got your six, even when you are out there alone.” These results confirmed the value of the Lone Worker Program and its potential to reshape the safety culture in Community Corrections. By the end of the pilot, leadership had incorporated technical refinements, strengthened training and ensured that all circuits were ready for a smooth statewide rollout. The launch On February 1, 2025, the Lone Worker Program became a reality. From that day forward, every Correc tional Probation Officer in Florida conducting fieldwork,

Program. But before it could be implemented on a statewide scale, it had to be tested and refined in the real world. Pilot program To prepare for a successful launch, leader ship initiated a pilot program in four judicial circuits. This was an opportunity to see how the system performed under real working conditions, to identify potential weaknesses and to gather honest feedback from the of ficers who would depend on it. During the pilot, an important enhancement emerged in the use of geo fencing to trigger reminders. This feature

Corrections Today | Spring 2026

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