Agency Flag

 

Opportunities For Improvements (OFI's) Identified by ADC.

 

Following the Lewis Prison hostage siege, the department conducted an audit and assessment. Recommendations from that assessment have been labeled "Opportunities for Improvement."

 

Description
Transfrisker:  Evaluate staff training in use of hand held metal detector.
Post Orders:  Review to see if orders are clearly written, that they specifically detail each requirement of the post, that they are available, and that staff are trained on their use.
Pending:  Review 17 pending security and inmate management policies for update and implementation.
Searches:  Establish designated teams, improve search practices, create new posts.  Evaluate frequency and thoroughness of searches.  Identify who schedules searches. How staff and inmate searches are conducted.
Review Time Frames;  Evaluate how the policy review process can be streamlined.  Currently, an average Department Order overhaul is completed in approximately 40 hours total work time by the Policy Unit; yet, it takes over 200 work days to be completely reviewed and approved by other ADC staff.
Reinstitute Technology Committee, and review catalogs/inventory of usable technology.
Contraband:  Evaluate possible inmate use of gravel in the yard to conceal weapons, razors, shanks and other contraband.
Work Assignments:  Review of offenders in WIPP and ACI assignments for proper management (custody level vs. work assignment)
Evaluate rotating inmates' work assignments and schedules so that they have less opportunity to familiarize themselves with officers' routines and work habits.
Food Passes:  Evaluate pass throughs and doors at appropriate levels for food and tool distribution.
Kitchen:  General review of activity level and documents associated with D Level Kitchen Staffing
Determine whether ADC wishes to continue manning the towers.
ADC should improve cameras and camera location at all controlled entry points and all security ingress and egress points for positive identification of persons seeking entry.
Evaluation of current complex lighting; and potential improvements to illumination and the ability to ID staff/inmates in the dark.
One-way glass:  Evaluate need for towers and control room glass.
Evaluate hinged glass on towers vs. roof post.
Weapons:  Evaluate if staff have appropriate arms (AR 15), training, ammunition, storage, etc.
Insure that post-specific training occurs for all armed posts.
Only staff assigned to complex and unit main control rooms and shift supervisors should be allowed access to those control rooms with the shift commanders direct approval.
Include a review of Tower security and other enclosed spaces for staff safety and other security issues in the Peer Audit Review.
Identify security areas used for non-security purposes
Meds/Mail:  Evaluate staff distribution of medications and mail.
Determine what other states have interior towers armed with lethal force
The tower should always be staffed with two qualified officers, both armed with sidearms at all times.  
Determine what equipment should be maintained in these areas.
Review the use and deployment of chemical agents such as Israeli Gas Foggers.
Review and revamp ADC's administration of training programs to integrate and improve staff training and career development.
Proficiency testing:  Are staff receiving proper OJT, refresher training, briefing modules, etc.
Provide OJRT
Pre/Post promotional training
In-Service line staff training
Radios:  Evaluate transmission in black-out areas.
Surveillance camera monitor posts impact on D level and assignment of other duties
Evaluate all posts for possible physical modifications and retrofits where applicable.
Evaluate personal alarms and man down systems for cost and availability
Drills: Evaluate formalizing IMS drills, making lesson plans, evaluation process.
Emergency Response training (IMS)
DART/TSU (IMS, Weapons qualification)
IMS:  General review of OPAL
TSU/Dart Hostage:  Review training, equipment and procedural manuals developed by TQM.  Recommend updates and improvements, and incorporate into IMS process.  Update policy manual.
Interagency:  Evaluate ADC joint efforts with outside agencies.
Cooperation terms - MOU's
Understanding Roles
Inter-operability
Consistent unified effort.
Joint Training Exercise
Department:  Evaluate ADC joint efforts with outside agencies.
Inmate TV/Radios:  Evaluate if inmates can pick up staff radio transmissions on their TV sets/radios.
Hostage Negotiation:  Evalute additional or specialized equipment needs to mesh with newly created emergency response or hostage negotiation policy
Determine which states have Hostage Negotiation policies.
Directors request of National Institute of Corrections
# STG debriefs in PS (in housing and work assignments)
Re-validation of classification system.
Does current system accurately assess offender security/custody risk?
Suggestions on developing an objective internal classification system to guide Program and work decisions.
What new technology advancements are available for a system of our current and projected size?
What assessment models, protocols and system are available for our use?
Request assessment team to look at our needs.
Review Methods to evaluate debriefs.
Review offenders for appropriate custody levels and housing assignments
# of Involuntary vs. voluntary PS offenders in housing and work assignments
Mixed Classification: Review how to simplify offender population at each complex through periodic review.
Mental Health:  Identify and consolidate mental health offenders at appropriate locations.  New beds will handle this situation.  Review how to order the offender reassignment process.
Expand OJT for COTA graduates.
Conduct general review of the COTA curriculum with an emphasis on core competencies.
Increase core competency/self defense at COTA
Evaluate effectiveness of COTA training vs. regional academies in preparing CO's.
General review of CO security training
Back to Basics:  Identify Core Competencies for all employees.
Evaluate Core competency testing for all employees.
Recruitment:  Review process for possible improvements to recruiting (see CA, OK, other best practices)
General review and update of staffing policies (DO 512, DI 169)
Number/Ratio of Jr CO to SR staff
Shafer Pay Plan
Study issues associated with travel time.
Relief factor (Deland and Camp Studies)
Shift differential for CO
Review the ratio of Jr:Sr Supervisory staff and develop strategies for adjusting as necessary.
Press:  Develop with Attorney General's Office, joint strategy for timely public information releases.
Identify opportunities to better service staff families during a crises.
Treatment:  General review of CISD, PEER Support Programs, Long term care and counseling.  Integrate Victim's Services with support efforts.
Identify opportunities to improve our ability to interact with offender families when asking for assistance or providing information.
1997 Lumley Study
601 Supervisor complaints:  Review for trends in disciplinary issues indicating management response to security issues.
Reinstitute an ADC audit process to incorporate peer review for compliance and accreditation
Authority to change temporary and permanent D Level staffing
Canceling Outside work crews when at D level
Evaluate work orders for timeliness and effectiveness of completion (are phones, tools, locks, etc. being repaired satisfactorily?)
Review maintenance issues associated pneumatic locks at Lewis and Dakota
Bio Hazards/PPE:  Review availability, use, training, employment and condition of PPE
Medical:  Determine statutory changes necessary to enable ADC to draw blood with force, if necessary, to determine presence of infectious or dangerous disease in order to protect staff who have been assaulted.
Victims Rights:  Pursue Rape Shield Statute
Officer ID:  Statutorily determine how to protect staff who are crime victims, to ensure privacy and protect identify (name, picture, and medical condition should not be released)
Service Dogs: Evaluate deployment and availability of dogs at each complex,
Armory:  Review of facilities, weapons,
Sanitize Clothing:  Evaluate handling of contaminated (bio-hazard) staff uniforms
CO Equipment:  General review of  equipment to insure they can perform basic required tasks (vests, mace, etc.)
I.D. Cards:  Periodically re-issue offender ID cards to account for changes in appearance and card deterioration.
Evaluate location of Barber Shop/Shoe Shine operations.
Review and revise as necessary 601 and 508.
Comprehensive review of all posting charts to indicate relief factor and designated minimum staffing levels and authority.
All armed posts will have post orders modified according to DO 804.07.1.2.5
Evaluate a process to reward CO's for maintaining physical conditioning  standards following COTA graduation.
Review existing structure for shift briefings.  Insure all security employees are provided briefing information.  Insure consistent delivery of training information.
 Evaluate Vicchio Study and incorporate as appropriate.
Standardize methodology and accountability procedure to schedule employees for weapon qualification.
Standardize Information/Incident Report tracking system.
Standardization of:
Communications equipment
Escape Flyer process/availability
V'ed work boot availability
standards for supervisory visits to off-site work locations.
Elements contained in post orders.
Pre-service/inservice training specific to offsite crew supervision and post familiarization.
Develop a process to ensure no officer is carrying outdated OC/PPE.
Standardize the munitions and amounts for each armed post in ADC.
Develop a standardized procedure for employees to request intra-complex lateral transfers.
Define a method and/or standard to balance our workplace practice of strict adherence to the chain-of-command as opposed to when staff are free.

 



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