Supervision in a Direct Supervision Facility

1. Supervision in a Direct Supervision Facility Georgia Jail Association Captain Melinda Allen Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Beth Shafer Houston County Sheriff’s Office

2. Manager or Leader? • Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing. - Warren Bennis, Ph.D.

3. What are the Characteristics of a Good Leader? • Select a leader (real or fictitious) • Leadership styles • Examples

4. What is Leadership? • One in charge or command of others • One who has influence or power • The foremost horse in a harnessed team • The capacity of the ability to lead

5. Problem Employees? • Do you recognize the employees in the video clip?

6. Leadership and Supervision in a Direct Supervision Facility • Why is Supervision in a Direct Supervision Facility (DSF) different from a linear facility? • Review of critical dimensions of Supervision in a DSF. • How can I apply these principles at my agency?

7. 6 Dimensions of Supervision • Acting as a Leader / Decision Maker • Anticipating Institutional Problems • Acting as a Mediator/Negotiator • Supervising in a Flexible Manner • Performing Administrative and Routine Supervisory Tasks • Responding to Inmate Needs and Disturbances and Investigating Inmate Requests

8. I. Leader/Decision Maker • Ensure that command posts are covered during an emergency • Sets an example for subordinates • Responds to emergency by directing officer and inmate behavior; takes action to address the emergency, advise his/her superior, protects evidence, stays calm and follows appropriate rules.

9. I. Leader/Decision Maker …continued • Supervisor uses physical force only when an inmate disturbance warrants it. • Formally disciplines officers only in private, and only when the officer’s behavior warrants it. • Supervisor, when appropriate, issues verbal warnings and explains acceptable behavior before writing up officers for unacceptable behavior.

10. I. Leader/Decision Maker …continued • Supervisor does not ignore officer’s behavior that violates the rules. • Enforces rules and procedures without favoritism. • When issuing orders and making requests, ensures that the instructions are clear, specific and understood.

11. Do you use Clear and Specific Instructions?

12. I. Leader/Decision Maker…continued • Supervisor takes responsibility for decisions made on his/her shift. • Supervisor recognizes situations where direct orders are more appropriate than group decision making.

13. II. Anticipating Institutional Problems • Inspections • Arrival to work • Anticipate scheduling problems • Difficult inmates • Ensure accessibility during shift

14. III. Negotiator/Mediator • Verbally abusing inmates worsens a disturbance • Speak calmly • Separate fighting inmates • Resolve racial or other conflicts by listening • Listen to subordinate complaints or problems

15. IV. Flexibility • Do not criticize publicly • Identify and take action on work-related deficiencies • Visit pod daily • Follow through on promises • Compliment subordinates • Non-accusatory counseling

16. IV. Flexibility …..continued.. • Refrain from intervening when subordinate has situation under control • Train officers in rules and procedures • Provide physical support when dealing with unruly inmates

17. IV. Flexibility …..continued.. • Explain expectations • Investigate, document and report subordinate complaints • Support and follow policies and procedures of the facility

18. V. Administrative and Routine Supervisory Tasks • Report Writing • Support the chain of command • Communicate important information to next shift supervisor for consistency • Acknowledge and investigate complaints about subordinates

19. On Relaying Information and Communication……

20. V. Administrative and Routine Supervisory Tasks..continued • Relay important information • Ensure subordinates paperwork conforms to policy • Performance evaluations reflect good and bad • Examine log book and reports for errors and omissions

21. V. Administrative and Routine Supervisory Tasks… continued • Use roll call to relay important information • Maintain confidentiality about personnel problems • Maintain detailed records of job performance • Conduct unannounced security checks and inspections

22. VI. Responding to Inmate Needs and Disturbances and Investigating Requests • Follow through on promises to inmates • Treat I/M fairly and consistently • Use respectful language • Counsel inmates in private • Enforce inmate compliance with rules

23. VII. The Next Dimension.. Maintaining Effective Administrative and Staff Relations • Promptly reports critical information • Refrains from expressing criticism of another staff member • Maintains consistency of the living unit • Supports appropriate efforts of other officers dealing with inmates • Promptly calls for emergency back-up (RRT) • Coordinates with other staff on specific discipline matters.

24. Quotes to Lead by: • Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity - George Patton • If you are planning for one year, grow rice. If you are planning for 20 years, grow trees. If you are planning for centuries, grow people. ~ A Chinese Proverb

25. More Quotes to Lead by: • Leadership is not something you DO to people, it is something you do WITH them. • Leadership is not just what happens when you are there, its what happens when you’re not there. • Leading people is the opposite of trying to control them.

26. Questions?