Corrections_Today_Winter_2025-2026_Vol.87_No.4

from the archives

It is important that all staff understand that every communication contains a sender and a receiver. It is important that the offender receives the information from the staff as the staff intended it to be heard, and staff need to spend more time checking to make sure the offender has a clear understanding of expectations. It is very important for staff to learn to say, “no,” and mean it. Requests that cross professional boundaries cannot be granted to inmates. It is important to com municate the rules in a straightforward manner so that offenders do not have room to twist and manipulate the words of staff. Staff need to be knowledgeable about the offenders with whom they are working. It is very important to “know your client” by knowing the history of the person’s past. Red flags can often be found in the offender’s history that provide indicators of what to avoid and how best to proceed and not be compromised. Staff need to show of fenders they are in charge and professionally competent. Offenders love to prey on staff who are wishy-washy or have trouble showing confidence. It is important to know the program’s policies and procedures and to be able to discuss with offenders why a procedure is in place. Many procedures are found in an offender’s handbook, which clearly outlines program expectations. It is important to redirect offenders back to their handbook and written policies and procedures when the inmates start challeng ing rules. It is not up to the staff to defend the rules, but staff do need to enforce them and to be consistent in what all staff tell the offenders. It is very important that every time an unusual behavior occurs, staff document it in a consistent man ner. If documentation becomes inconsistent, it can feed into games, and offenders can start seeing weaknesses in certain staff. The most effective programs shut down manipulation and redirect offenders back to their pro gram and what is expected. For the offender, this can be very reassuring because most offenders cannot easily set healthy boundaries or stay focused on their own. Offenders usually feel more at ease and in control of themselves when clear expectations are modeled by all staff.

It is important to redirect offenders back to their handbook and written policies and procedures when the inmates start challenging rules.

Some of the most effective professionals in cor rections are those who understand their roles and what is expected of them. These professionals are able to do their jobs while not being too punitive or too soft with offenders by showing a balance of enforcing the rules when needed and empathizing with and supporting offenders when appropriate. Balanced staff members function well under stress and rely on policies and procedures to help them navigate the games and manipulations of inmates. Games criminals play Games can be played in a variety of ways, but the offender’s goal is to compromise staff and get what he or she wants. Victims (staff) are carefully se lected by offenders. Offenders spend time studying staff, and there is a lot of excitement and motivation behind the games. Staff can become compromised any time they bend the rules for an offender. It is important to enforce boundaries and limits with offenders and not to act outside of policy and proce dure, which provides protection for staff and allows staff and offenders to navigate within boundaries. Staff members who act out of pity or sorrow, or who do not pick up on manipulative behavior, end up being compromised. Limits are tested often by offenders who push, bend and break minor rules to

Winter 2025-2026 | Corrections Today

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