Send us a text In this episode, David Schilling (from Episode 32 ) is back with his new book The Jail Intelligence Manual - How Jails can Implement Low-Cost or No-Cost Intelligence Practices. We talk about the role of an investigator, sources of intelligence in jail, how to work better with local law enforcement, and how this all ties back directly to staff safety inside our Jails and Prisons. The Jail Intelligence Manual: How Jails Can Implement Low Cost & No Cost Intelligence Practices Tha...
May 08, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Send us a text My second day at the MOCK Riot in Moundsville, WV. Corrections from all over the world have gathered from all over the world to be part of this one-of-a-kind opportunity! In this episode, I interview participants, vendors, and staff from the MOCK Riot and hear about why it is so special, the importance of good training, and how the training at Moundsville, WV is uniquely Corrections. MOCK Prison Riot website Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your ...
May 03, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Send us a text What an oppurtunity to meet and talk with a great bunch of Correctional Professionals. For those of you that can't be here, I talk about the first day of set up with all the vendors and describe a little about why the MOCK Riot is so important for Corrections. If you are at the MOCK Riot at The decommissioned West Virginia Penatentiary, stop by The Prison Officer booth and Say HI! MOCK Prison Riot website Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Lif...
May 01, 2023•7 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with Hugh Hurwitz about the many hats he wore in the Bureau of Prisons, as well as his thoughts on why we need Re-Entry and How the First Step Act is working. Hugh Hurwitz held multiple positions with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, including Acting Director, Assistant Director for Administration, and Assistant Director for Reentry Services. Currently, he provides consulting services in prison management, reentry and reform, organizational change, and other ...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Send us a text In this episode of the basics, I talk about what it takes to have Success in Corrections. The Basic, common sense attributes and work habits of a good correctional officer. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell Keys to Your New Career: ...
Apr 17, 2023•26 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk to Warden Jeffery Fewell about his career and his time as a Corrections Specialist in the Military. With terms like the Stockade or the Brig, most of us know military prison from the movies. Today’s guest spent his first 20 years in the ARMY working in Military Corrections. Jeffery Fewell has since retired from the military and continued a career in Law Enforcement as a deputy sheriff, a correctional consultant, a professor, and Warden. He is currently the ...
Apr 10, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Send us a text In this episode of The Basics, I am going to talk about the best practices for conducting good, productive shakedowns and cell seraches. Where to look, how to look, and what to look for. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell Keys to You...
Apr 03, 2023•19 min
Send us a text In this episode, I visit with Todd Craig, a former Assistant Director, Warden, and Chief of the Office of Security Technology for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Now the National Security Director for Smart Communications, he is also considered a Correctional Contraband Interdiction Subject Matter Expert specializing in cell phone and drone interdiction. We talk about what technology is already out there and what the future of technology looks like in Corrections. You can contact T...
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Send us a text In this episode of The Basics, I am going to talk about why it is so important that staff Get Hand's On! with our inmates. From hospital escorts to pat searches, to working segregation, Hand's On is the most important thing you can do for staff and inmate safety. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vi...
Mar 20, 2023•17 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about a sometimes touchy subject. PREA - The Prison Rape Elimination Act. CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT! I will discuss why and how PREA began, and how it has affected our prisons and jails. In the second part of this episode, I share with you the new Vision Statement for The Prison Officer Podcast, and how I hope we can affect our profession positively. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide your Life and Career! PepperBall From cr...
Mar 13, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about the controversial subject of Professional Appearance. How we present ourselves at work can affect how inmates look at us. I talk about my opinions on uniforms, hair and beard length, perfumes at work, and more. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide...
Mar 06, 2023•14 min
Send us a text In today's episode, I sit down with Paul Young, a retired Major with the Missouri Department of Corrections. Paul, now 85, retired with 34 years working for the DOC and almost 40 years in Law Enforcement in total. Although Paul saw many changes during his career, he was able to adapt and thrive. From working at Missouri State Penitentiary in the 1960s & 70s to running bloodhounds on manhunts that made the national news, Paul's story is as interesting as it is varied. Missouri ...
Feb 27, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Send us a text In this episode of The Basics, I talk about inmate property and why it is important to manage it. Inmate property when uncontrolled, can lead to poor sanitation, increased hard contraband, and even escape. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael C...
Feb 20, 2023•15 min
Send us a text Today’s guest is David Skarbek, an Associate Professor of Political Science and Political Economy at Brown University. He is also the author of two books: The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern the American Penal System The Puzzle of Prison Order: Why Life Behind Bars Varies Around the World When many people outside the prison system think of prison gangs, they think of chaotic bands of violent, racist thugs. Few people think of gangs as sophisticated organiza...
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Send us a text In this episode of The Basics, I talk about the tray slot, cuff slot, bean hole, or whatever you call it, it is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous areas of your locked unit. How you approach and handle your interactions at the tray slot could be the difference between injury and going home safe. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding ...
Feb 06, 2023•17 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with Domenic Pezzano who retired from Corrective Service in New South Wales, Australia after more than 30 years of service. We talk about starting out as a Correctional Officer, a riot at Long Bay where he was a hostage, and his rise up the ranks in NSW Prison Corrective Service, and his advice to those just starting out. You can contact Domenic here Correctional Services / Prison Subject Expert The Prison Officer Podcast Job Guide : Information and Guidanc...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 11Ep. 45
Send us a text In this episode of The Basics, we talk about Security Checks. Fence checks, roof checks, building checks, and more. Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell Keys to Your New Career: Information and Guidance to Get Hired and Be Successful a...
Jan 23, 2023•17 min
Send us a text Whenever you talk about the Missouri State Penitentiary, you can’t help but mention Mark Schreiber. He went to work for the Missouri Department of Corrections in the 1960s and has held many positions, starting as an officer, he ended his career as Assistant Warden of the Missouri State Penitentiary. He has always been an advocate for preserving the history of MSP and the Missouri Department of Corrections. He has written two books about the Penitentiary and Missouri Department of ...
Jan 16, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Send us a text Running a podcast takes a lot of time. Running a good one takes even more...:-) I have been asked a lot to provide more content but with my schedule as an Instructor, and editing, recording, and scheduling guests, I just haven't had much time. There has been a lot of interest from schools, academies, and agencies that really enjoy some of the basic correctional officer subjects we have covered on this podcast. So, in order to try to provide more content and provide some episodes o...
Jan 09, 2023•20 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with Anthony Gangi, an author, speaker, and the Host of Tier Talk, a long-running podcast about Corrections and the challenges staff face every day. Anthony and I talk about why finding your purpose at work matters, especially when you work in Corrections. Also, welcome PepperBall! Our newest sponsor - Please click their link below to visit The PepperBall website. Tier Talk - Youtube Channel Inmate Manipulation Decoded: A Definitive Guide to Understanding t...
Jan 02, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Send us a text Just a quick episode to thank all of you working the holidays! What you do matters and I appreciate it! Also I read A CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS CHRISTMAS just for some lighthearted fun. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and have a safe shift! A Correctional Officer's Christmas Christmas Music - Jingle Bells Intro - Thanks to Scott Holmes Music The Midnight Shift Before Christmas by Donna Miele PepperBall From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-leth...
Dec 24, 2022•9 min
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with Brian O'Connell, a retired Warden with the Missouri Department of Corrections. Growing up with two Grandfathers who worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he knew he wanted to work in Corrections early on. We talk about some BOP and family history, his career path to Warden in the Missouri Department of Corrections, and why he thinks there is room for compassion in Corrections. You can e-mail Brian here brian_oconnell@att.net Learn more about Social...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about how I developed my own Personal Vision Statement and why you need one. Much like an agency or company's Vision Statement, a Personal Vision Statement can give you focus, direction, and purpose, and help you reach the goals you have for your life and career. I also talk about my 3 Truths of Leadership and the differences between Strategic Leadership and Tactical Leadership. Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life a...
Dec 05, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Send us a text In this episode, I talk to former Sgt. Kevin Phillips. Kevin discusses his quick rise from rookie to sergeant to DOC Valor award winner, and how quickly things can fall down around you. He talks about loving the job, and resilience, yet learning to deal with the stresses of working inside. Kevin lets us in on some of the stories still floating around Columbia Correctional Center (CCI), the prison where serial killer Jeffery Dahmer was murdered. My Daddy is a Correctional Officer b...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Send us a text In today’s episode, we talk with former BOP Captain Glen MacDonald about doing the right thing, even when it is tough. Glen walks us through many of the decisions throughout his life and career, where doing the right thing was not popular. Despite being shunned by staff, loss of promotions, and horrible stress, Glen persevered. Glen also shares his passion for staying active, including CrossFit and “rucking,” and how completing more than 120 GoRuck events has allowed him to “get c...
Nov 06, 2022•1 hr 56 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Send us a text Since the beginning of law enforcement and corrections, officers have had to verbally try and change the actions of others to prevent force from being used to control the situation. There have always been those who could communicate in this manner well. Those officers were able to get their point across without resorting to force. Some were able to do it by helping the person work through the logical reasons they should or shouldn’t continue their actions or behavior. Other office...
Oct 24, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Send us a text You know, whenever the discussion of the roughest, toughest prisons comes up, there are several names that come to everyone’s mind…Alcatraz, Sing Sing, Leavenworth, Joliet, and of course San Quentin. Opened in 1852, San Quentin State Prison in California is one of those violent prisons that has become part of our national culture. A prison that currently houses more than 3300 inmates (700 of those in the prison’s Condemned Unit), San Quentin has been immortalized in movies, TV, li...
Oct 10, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Send us a text A cartoon I once saw showed a sinking boat with sailors in it. One end is going underwater, and a couple of sailors are bailing as fast as they can to no avail. The other end of the boat is still out of the water and the characters on the other end are saying, “I’m glad it’s not our end of the boat that is sinking." Wake up, people! It’s the same boat, if one end sinks the whole boat sinks. There is a new generation of correctional officers coming on board. They bring a different ...
Sep 27, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Send us a text My guest today is Neil "Sam" Samworth, former UK prison officer and the author of S trangeways – A Prison Officer’s Story . Sam spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, a prison also known as Strangeways. His book Strangeways is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life in a high-security prison. Sam tackles cell fires and self-harmers and goes head to head with some of the most dangerous men in the country. We spend time discussing the differen...
Sep 11, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Send us a text Today I sit down and discuss the minutes from the 1959 Captain's Conference that was held in Washington D.C. These minutes give us some insight into what challenges and changes were going on with the Bureau of Prisons. I invited Capt. Gary Cooper (ret.), Captain Dennis Treadway (ret.), and Captain Glen MacDonald (ret.) to sit down and talk about Yesterday and Today in the Bureau of Prisons. I'm going to invite you to sit and listen at the Captain's Table. Support the show Contact ...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 34
