NCJ Number
215906
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 68 Issue: 5 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 62-65
Date Published
August 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Nebraska Department of Corrections' (DOC's) training program that is designed to prepare current employees for promotion to leadership jobs that become vacant due to resignation or retirement.
Abstract
The DOC has created many training opportunities designed to prepare the next generation of correctional leaders, from entry-level positions to supervisory roles. These opportunities allow department staff to learn what is expected of leaders and how to perform optimally in leadership positions. The DOC's Correctional Leadership program is conducted annually. The first course offered is a 1-day introductory course that teaches "survival techniques" to staff who are new supervisors or employees who aspire to be future supervisors. The course explores and defines various supervisory styles and when each is appropriate. The course also examines how supervision is experienced differently by the four generational levels currently in the work force. Students grade themselves on their current level of competency in various supervisory tasks. The second course in the series is the Correctional Leadership course, which is 16 hours of instruction over 2 days. It is open to all agency staff without a prerequisite. This course examines differences between leadership, management, and supervision. Change and empowerment are also explored. The third course, Advanced Correctional Leadership, requires that participants complete the Correctional Leadership course first. The 2-day course begins with discussions of the qualities of exceptional leaders and explores in more depth the following topics of the previous course: performance feedback, communication, employee morale and cohesiveness, and ethics. New topics include listening skills and multifactor leadership.