Correctional Leadership - Essay Example

Challenges for reworking corrections Introduction The current prison and corrections system is wrought with various challenges – from overcrowding to prison violence. Various solutions to this problem have been proposed and bandied about by politicians and other managers involved in the correctional system. None of these solutions have so far managed to yield favorable results. Authors Clear, Cole, and Reisig (2009) have proposed several solutions in their book entitled ‘American Corrections’ and these solutions are stated as follows: to reinvigorate a new correctional leadership; to refocus our investments on what works; and to reclaim the moral and ethical high road. This paper shall discuss the solution of reinvigorating a new correctional leadership. Various materials from different authors and discussions shall be used in this paper in order to support this student’s chosen solution. Discussion Clear, Cole, and Reisig (2009) discuss that a strong leadership is needed in order to solve our problems in our corrections system. They cite the case of Martin Horn who runs the New York City Rikers system. Horn’s strong leadership was able to prove that it is important for a corrections manager to act fairly and reasonably; maintain a drug-free prison system; and make transactions transparent in order to ensure the public’s confidence in it (Clear, Cole, & Reisig, 2009). The authors also point out that with strong leaders, solutions can easily and effectively be implemented through a strong and determined vision, the leader’s ability to put the right people into the right kind of work, and the leader’s strong ability to motivate people into doing their best (Clear, Cole, and Reisig, 2009). These leaders can be seen in almost every corner of the globe; and the challenge is to attract these people and entice them into joining the corrections system. In a paper submitted by Dobel (2006), and published by the US Department of Corrections, he points out the importance of a strong leader who is ethical and mindful of his values. The author sets forth that since a leader holds a position of authority, most especially in an important area such as corrections, he is bound into a complicated system of obligations and responsibilities. A leader has to answer and be responsible for and to his colleagues, superiors, peers, offenders, and other clients (victims, the family members of the victims, and the offenders themselves) (Dobel, 2006). If the leader and the different corrections staff fail, then the corrections system itself can suffer the consequences. As a result, the effectiveness of the system may be compromised. In order to establish good leadership in the corrections system, leaders who are installed must be mindful of their moral ascendancy over the prisoners or offenders. “The vulnerability of offenders in custody imposes a duty on correctional managers and supervisors to ensure that the safety and rights of these offenders are respected even under difficult circumstances” (Dobel, 2006, p. 27). A strong leader does not take advantage of his position of authority, nor does he use such authority to abuse and visit various acts of cruelty on the offenders within the prison system. Regardless of the fact that the prisoners have been imposed a punishment which deprives them of their liberties, they are still entitled to basic human rights. Leaders have the burden of ensuring that these offenders are respected even as prisoners. A strong leader needs to set up a safe environment within the prison system in order to protect offenders from the usual dangers that plague prisons. Prison violence and drug use within the prison system are dangers which often render the corrections and rehabilitation system ineffective. Strong leaders need to set-up an effective monitoring process which would evaluate the activities of prisoners and subject them to punishment for initiating violent acts within the prisons. The prison guards also need to be mindful of their responsibilities as guards and to ensure that they do not subject the prisoners to unnecessary violence. A strong leader has a firm control of the prison and corrections systems. He also has to have a firm grip of one of the main problems in the prison system which is rape. It is one of the seemingly inevitable problems in the corrections system; it has even become a cliché. But it is a cliché which can be slowly reversed through strong leadership. “Strong leaders who are committed to fighting the problem can minimize these savage and traumatic assaults” (New York Times, 2009). Experts recommend that all corrections agencies must impose a zero-tolerance policy for these rapes. Corrections agencies must also adapt thorough screening procedures for workers in the corrections systems. These agencies must also deal accordingly with employees who participate in sexual assaults; they should be dismissed and charged with the appropriate sexual assault charges (New York Times, 2009). The corrections agencies must also create a safe environment for those who report instances of sexual assault. All reports must be promptly and fairly investigated. The appropriate and legal sanctions must be set out for those who are found to be guilty of sexual assault (New York Times, 2009). Strong leadership in the corrections system must serve as the anchor and the galvanizing force which would give direction to the correctional employees and the offenders under the prison system. “This leadership requires new perspective anchored in intuition, an ability to make corrections dynamic and meaningful and attention to diversity concerns” (Carlson & Garrett, 1999, p. 445). This leadership also applies strategies which would make the necessary adjustments to accommodate the behavioral skills and fiscal responsibilities. By applying the transformational goals to the corrections systems, it is possible for such a leader to achieve “quality improvement foundations [which can contradict the] the norm for correctional leaders as rigid, macho, authoritarian …” (Carlson & Garrett, 1999, p. 445). A strong leader bucks conventions because the conventions that have been in place for many years are actually not effective in the corrections system. A strong leader must also be courageous in taking on the drug problem in the corrections system. Drugs are already a trend and yet another cliché in the corrections system in America. A strong leader must work with those implementing the drug rehabilitation program in order to ensure that those who are incarcerated for drug charges and those who are using drugs within the system are properly entered into the rehabilitation program (Lifespan, 2009). A strong leader must be prepared to clean up the habits of drug abusers within the system and help ensure that the abuser’s time in prison would include drug rehabilitation. A strong leader is also essential in order to prevent the prevalence of gangs in the corrections systems. Gangs in prison can be controlled and managed in the hands of a strong leader. More importantly, such leader must also not be corrupt. Various instances of high gang activity are often attributed to corrupt corrections officers who can easily be bribed to look the other way when instances of gang violence and other gang activities occur (Rothman, 2008). In order to rework the prison system, its leaders must not be susceptible to the whims of gangs; they must crack down on gangs in the corrections systems in order to control gang activities and the proliferation of gangs in the corrections system. A strong leader in the corrections systems ensures that the rehabilitative process is effective. The very purpose of sending prisoners to jail is for them to be rehabilitated. There are various measures that a strong leader can implement in order to ensure an effective prison system. These measures include: integration of community-level services including mental health and social services to the prisoners; regular meetings among prison stakeholders; designated liaison officers who can manage regular and essential communications among the stakeholders; good communication skills; early identification of detainees who may have mental health or drug problems and tendency for violence; and diversion case managers who can come up with activities within the prison system (Corrigan, Mueser, & Bon, 2008, p. 299). A strong leader with good communication skills is a necessary ingredient in the corrections systems because he can bridge the gap between offender and jailer. He can help engage the interest of the prisoner in the rehabilitative process. A leader with good communication skills listens to the people – in this case, he listens to the prisoners and he listens to the employees. It is easy enough for an abused prisoner to open up to the leader if he knows that the leader would listen. By opening the doors of communication, all the stakeholders would be more engaged in making the corrections system work. They would be more cooperative because the goals being implemented are not just for the sake of the system, but for theirs as well. Conclusion A strong leader is one of the best means to improve the prison and corrections system. That strong leader must strongly implement the rehabilitation process. He must also not be vulnerable to corruption and to gangs. He must deal with gangs, violence, sexual assaults, and drug use by implementing the appropriate penalty or punishment for those who participate in said activities. He must also have a good control and a good grasp of the system in order to ensure that the corrections system would be effective and beneficial for the offenders. Works Cited Carlson, P. & Garrett, J. (1999) Prison and jail administration: practice and theory. Maryland: Aspen Publishers Clear, T., Cole, G. & Reisig, M. (2009) American Corrections. California: Thomson Higher Education Corrigan, P. Mueser, K. & Bon, G. (2008) Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Rehabilitation: An Empirical Approach. New York: Guilford Press Dobel, J. (December 2006) Ethics and Values. US Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections. Retrieved 15 February 2010 from http://nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/Library/020475.pdf Rape in Prison (23 June 2009) New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/opinion/24wed3.html?_r=1 Rothman, C. (18 November 2008) Investigation shows gang leaders continue activity in prison. New Jersey Real-Time News. Retrieved 15 February 2010 from http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/investigation_shows_gang_leade.html Study Finds U.S. Prison System Falls Short in Treating Drug Addiction (8 September 2009) Lifespan. 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