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Laura E. Bedard, Ph.D, Chief of Corrections, Seminole County Sheriff’s OfficeThose of you who have been in corrections for a little while remember the dreaded “green log books” we used in our profession to document everything. We’d write thedate, time and exactly what was going on. We logged cell checks and inmates in and out of the housing areas; we’d log chow time, laundry distribution, bunk moves and pill call; all by hand with a ball point pen. Sometimes we’d change the color ink to signify a certain category of events. Log entries became an art form. It was always exciting to be the one who got to start a new log book when the old one was filled. Our storage area was stuffed with boxes of old log books clearly marked in black sharpie with the date ranges on the front.
During a recent power outage, I was reminded that this new generation of corrections professionals don’t know what those log books are or how to use them. We had to complete some quick on the job training so we could keep track of what happened while the power was out. It was amusing to watch the younger generation, so accustomed to computers and tablets, writing in acronyms and “code”, to write properly detailed log entries.
The correctional mindset is rigid. We do what we do because we’ve always done it that way. While routine is good in this business, innovation is better. Technological advances in corrections have been a long time coming. Technology has opened doors for our profession and has allowed us to complete our jobs more efficiently. But technology implementation is not without pushback. Our facility has electronic “log books” where staff enter activities on a handheld tablet in real time. We can do cell checks, make notes on inmate behavior, log recreation and meals all with the tablet in our hands.
The technology has allowed us to print reports with the stroke of a computer key. Supervisors can checkthat events are occurring when and how they should be. We can provide proofs of compliance for our accreditation entities electronically. We can compare inmate photos as we make our rounds or approve passes for inmates to go from one place to another. This technology has allowed us to complete our correctional tasks faster and more efficiently, allowing for more time with one on one inmate face to face interaction.
Technology has also improved the quality of life for the inmate population. Inmates at our facility have an electronic request and messaging system. Inmates can message staffwith requests or questions, and staff can write back. Inmates can grieve disciplinary reports, check their inmate bank accounts, read the inmate handbook and talk to their families all from the tablet in their housing unit. This technology has improved our communication and has made our facility a safer place.
When we first rolled out the system some staff were opposed. They thought this was being “soft” on inmates. I think after the first month of implementation, they were all on board. The staff realized the efficiency of an electronic messaging system. The intelligence information we get from it is quite helpful too. We can monitor the pulse of each housing unit through reviewing the messages inmates send to friends and family.
The benefits of technology such as electronic log books, body image scanners, and biometric readers for cell checks and kiosks for inmates all contribute to a safer facility. So, if your staff are “stuck in time” encourage them to let go of that rigid correctional mind set and try new things. After all, if technology doesn’t prove to make their lives easier, we can always go back to the log books.
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