NCJ Number
198992
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 65 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 90-91
Date Published
February 2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article addresses staff misconduct with clients/offenders in the community corrections setting.
Abstract
After discussing increasing numbers of reports of staff misconduct with client/offenders in the community corrections arena as a growing concern to corrections administrators, the authors describe the National Institute of Corrections’ (NIC) development of a training program designed to enable administrators to address misconduct through policy and procedure development. Focusing on definitions of sexual misconduct, legal issues, policy and procedure development, staff training, culture change, codes of silence, ethics, investigative protocols, and prevention strategies, the NIC has developed a 36-hour training program that community corrections agencies will be eligible to attend in the spring of 2003. After describing a series of elements that should be considered when attempting to prevent sexual misconduct, the authors focus on the importance of devising zero tolerance polices and procedures for addressing staff sexual misconduct. Following a discussion of the importance of effective leadership that uses its influence to demonstrate that inappropriate relationships will not be tolerated in the community corrections setting, the authors discuss employee training, the role of supervision, offender orientation, investigations, and legal issues as essential elements in alerting staff members and potential victims concerning an agency’s policies and approach regarding sexual misconduct. Because allegations of sexual misconduct with offenders does not improve the image and support of community corrections missions, the prevention of sexual misconduct needs to be a priority for corrections administrators.