Mr. Kitchen,
I'm attaching a lesson plan that I recently comlpeted on Visitation, Interpersonal Communication and Contraband Detection skills. I hope it's useful to you. Pardon the formatting gliches from my cut and paste.
Robert Hyden
Tech Design Support Group
Tenn. Correction Academy
I. INTRODUCTION:
Many, if not most, Correctional Officers will at sometime in their career be assigned to work visitation. It is important that these officers not only be extremely knowledgeable in post orders and policy but also be skilled in personal interactions (i.e. customer relations). The visitation officer must realize that attitudes have to be adjusted when working with the public. This course is intended to furnish insight into proper responses to visitor problems and proper interaction with inmate visitors.
Many times it’s not mistakes of commission, staff conspiring to allow contraband in or deliberately being rude to visitors. It’s mistakes of omission such as not searching as thoroughly as we know we should or not showing courtesy to others in the workplace whether they are visitors, inmates or staff. These are areas that require us to constantly strive to improve and better ourselves as professionals in Corrections.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this class, the participant will be able to identify the proper response/actions in the video situations:
♦ Identify the policies that apply to visitation and checkpoint entry
♦ Develop professional interpersonal skills while interacting with visitors and staff in the following situations.
♦ Develop proper search techniques for visitors and inmates attending visitation.
♦ Identify behavioral indicators that a person may be attempting to smuggle contraband through visitation.
♦ Practice and review a IPC/Search checklist to identify strengths and weaknesses in these areas.
III. Test on Visitation Policy 507.01 and In-House Visitation Policies 507.01-1
Let’s see what you know about Visitation policies by answering the following questions.
1. Does visitation policy 507.01 apply to inmates in the parole/probation violators program?
No.
2. Does a child under the age of 12 have to be on the inmates visiting list to visit?
No, but they must be accompanied by their parent/guardian who is on the inmate’s approved list.
3. Can the Warden/designee further define Dress Code for Visitors, Official Visitors, and Volunteers?
Yes, an example is some institutions allow visitors to wear overalls some don’t.
4. Who has the final discretion to resolve questions of visitor dress code violations and whether to terminate or not allow the visit?
Shift Supervisor can terminate upon the recommendation of the Visitation Supervisor.
5. Is a visitor who is found to be in possession of contraband to be forcibly detained?
No, but all information such as make and model of vehicle, license plate number, name and address is to be taken and kept for further legal actions.
6. What law enforcement agency should be notified to apprehend and arrest visitor caught in possession of contraband?
Tennessee Highway Patrol by the Shift Supervisor
7. Is there a situation where a person under the age of 18 is allowed to visit without a parent/guardian?
Yes, if they are legally married to the inmate and can produce a valid marriage license and proper identification
8. What items of clothing are specifically prohibited for visitor to wear?
Spandex or spandex type fabrics,
Transparent or translucent clothing
Sleeveless shirts or dresses or clothing exposing bare chest or midriff
Any camouflage attire
Any clothing associated with STG’s logos, colors or manner of dress or that contains vulgarities
Splits in dresses that extend three inches above the knee
9. Are pantyhose undergarments?
No
10. How long are ex-employees or volunteers required to wait before they can get on an inmate’s visiting list?
6 months if they left in good standing and not under investigation from the date of the marriage.
If their separation from TDOC was due to violation of law they must wait 24 to 48 months depending on the seriousness of the offense
11. Can an inmate be allowed visits if they have been repeatedly found to be in violation of the drug testing or possession laws?
Yes if that visitor is approved by the Warden to persuade the inmate to get into the drug treatment programs or the inmate has completed participation in such as program.
12. Does the inmate have to be transferred to another prison before and ex-employee or volunteer will be allowed to visit them?
Yes
13. Are open toed shoes or sandals permitted to be worn by visitors in policy 507.01?
Yes
14. Must visitors wear undergarments?
Yes
15. Does clothing have to fit properly and not have any obvious gaps or exposure?
Yes
16. What items are visitors allowed to bring in with them?
One picture id such as drivers license
Baby items diapers, formula baby food
Car Keys
All other items are to be locked in institutional lockers or private vehicles
17. Is lack of space in visitation justification for denial or delaying a visit?
Yes
18. Are the institutions with closed circuit TV with recording capabilities required to be in operation in the visiting area during visitation?
Yes and the recordings are to be retained at least one week
19. What is “Weekend Child Visitation” at Tenn. Prison for Women?
Extended visitation program developed and administered to promote mother/child bonding
20. Are Ministers and Attorneys required to be on the inmates approved visiting list to visit?
No, as long as they are recognized by the Chaplain or the Warden for members of the clergy, Court officer identification for attorneys
IV. INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES:
The most common visitor problems reported by Visitation Sgt.’s and their Officers are:
Ø Visitors dressed improper with clothing that is too tight, translucent or otherwise inappropriate for visitation.
Ø Inappropriate displays of affection in visiting area such as kissing embracing and touching.
Ø Failure to control children
Ø Threatening to call Commissioner or Nashville when regulations are enforced then Nashville calls and says let them in or ignore the violations
Ø Loosing money in the vending machines or malfunctioning vending machines.
Before showing the Visitation video, cover the following points:
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Tell the class that they will be watching a video that deals with the subject of offender visitation.
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Visitation touches upon issues that are critical to your correctional facility.
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The first issue is public safety. Visitation provides several challenges to security, including contraband introduction and offender/visitor disturbances.
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The second issue is the offender’s enhanced ability to reenter society as a productive citizen. Visitation facilitates improved offender behavior and may reduce recidivism. This improved offender behavior also reduces stress in the institution and improves your working conditions.
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Successful visitation will enhance the image that citizens have of your facility and of you as a correctional officer.
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The video will show scenarios covering several common situations encountered during visitation.
IV.
VI. RECAP THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
We need to show professionalism by:
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Adopting the attitude that visitation success is our success through improved working conditions, improved offender behavior, and reduced recidivism.
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Knowing common staff problems that are encountered and improving our response to them.
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Understanding and pursing the resolution of common visitor complaints.
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We need to remember:
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Our human-relations skills, our ability to empathize, and the Golden Rule.
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That strong emotions and feelings surround the whole visitation process for everyone involved.
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That family members are not offenders and must not be directly or indirectly treated as such.
II.
III. VII. STAFF BEHAVIOR WHEN INTERACTING WITH VISITORS:
A. Professional demeanor: It is critically important that all staff who works visitation be professional in their interactions with visitors and the inmates during visitation. Some attributes that staff should display are:
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Have a professional appearance
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Always be polite and helpful in your interactions with all visitors and staff.
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Smile - professionally cordially.
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Be a patient empathetic listener.
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Always correct in private and in the least intrusive manner possible.
VIII. WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO USE EXCEPTIONAL INTERPERSONAL SKILLS WHEN WORKING VISITATION:
A. It’s the law, i.e. Family Visitation and Crime Reduction Act TCA, Title 41, Chapter 21, Part 2.
B. It’s the smart way to do business because it reduces inmate and visitor complaints.
C. It enhances inmates and visitors perception of us as a highly professionally operated department, which enhances our public image.
D. It encourages inmates' families to be supportive of them when they are released from prison thereby reducing the recidivism rate.
E. It helps inmates maintain good relations with their children.
F. It will make our jobs easier on a daily basis because if you want to be respected you have to first show respect.
IX. Possible Indicators That Inmates or Visitors May Be Smuggling Contraband.
There are many obvious and subtle behaviors or appearances that could indicate that someone maybe smuggling contraband in the prison. We are going to go over a list of possibilities.
One of the benefits of In-Service training should be it offers you the opportunity to share and exchange information and experiences you’ve had in many areas. So we’re going to ask you to share some insight you may have in detecting contraband.
A. What are some other indicators you’ve noticed or know of?
B. Behavioral Indicators that a Person Maybe Smuggling Contraband.
1. Excessive nervousness or fidgeting.
This be anything from eyes looking all around to sweaty palm, readjusting clothing.
2. Visiting for a short time (15 min. to 1 hr.)
3. Putting their own hands in their clothing or covering themselves with coats or sweaters to retrieve contraband.
4. Trips to the restroom by visitor then inmate goes to restroom after visitor returns. Spending a lot of time in the restroom.
5. Another inmate standing between camera and inmate or visitor to cover the hand off.
6. Another inmate or visitor distracting staff during a search.
7. Visitor or Inmate are looking for or at cameras
8. Visitor causing a distraction to cover for others smuggling or violating visiting rules.
X. DISCOVERY TECHNIQUES
A. Informants
Many times we receive information from an informant who is negotiating a deal to lessen punish or for other reasons.
B. K-9 drug dog(s) hit on vehicle or person.
C. Monitor Inmate Phone and Mail Will Helps Catch Smugglers
D. Anti profiling
The person you would least expect. Grandmothers, children, infants, ministers and lawyers have all been caught attempting to smuggle contraband. I know its hard to believe these usually trustworthy types would smuggle contraband but it’s happened.
As many senior supervisors I’ve talked have said, “There’s nothing that would surprise or shock me anymore”.
XI. THIS ALL BOILS DOWN TO "CUSTOMER RELATIONS”VS. MAINTAINING INSTITUTIONAL SECURITY:
The TDOC has spent enormous amounts of time and money training and trying to develop a more professional image among the public, the politicians and the inmate population. These are our customers and it's our responsibility to do all that we can to enhance and improve their perception of us as law enforcement professionals.
On the other hand we have remain vigilant in detecting and apprehending contraband and those persons who would smuggle it into our prisons. On the other hand we must behave professionally in all our interaction with visitors, staff and inmates.
One place these groups come together is in visitation of our institution by these individuals and groups. Therefore it's up to us to put forth our best face in all our interactions with these outside and inside groups and individuals. At the same time stay ever alert for contraband and those who smuggle it.