Essay On The Importance Of Security In Prison

The importance of security to the operation of jail and its main components

prison is a facility in which inmates are forcibly confined and denied a variety of

freedoms under the authority of the state as a form of punishment, as prisons become

more crowded and internal problems arise, it is important to keep control and stability

inside and outside of the prison. Security for prisoners require hospitalization at outside

medical facilities, officers are highly trained and focuses directly on jail safety and

security issues in prisoner disorder management, forced cell extraction, and various non

and less lethal weapons systems in order to provide support for all major disturbances

that occur within the prison. Physical structure of a prison is extremely

important to keep
society out and to keep inmates in, other valuable security measures are inmate
classification, categorization, and allocation. The physical design and inmate
categorization are key elements in security, prison officials officers are responsible for
the security measures that the physical design cannot control. Prisons are normally
surrounded by electrified fencing, walls, secure defensible main gates, security lighting,
motion sensors, remotely controlled doors, CCTV monitoring, alarms, cages, restraints,
dogs and security patrols, nonlethal and lethal weapons, multiple barriers to prevent
escape, armed guard towers, and a physical units to monitor and control the activities of
prisoners within the facility.

Objective prison classification requires a grasp of several key terms, concepts and an

understanding of the essential components of a classification system. Classification

systems help minimize the potential for prison violence, escape, and institutional

misconduct proper classification is crucial to the efficient and safe operation of any

prison facility. Three basic forms guide the classification process including the initial

screening form use to help identify a prisoner’s emergency needs when inmate is first

admitted to the prison system, the initial classification form use to determine the

prisoner’s scored custody level on admission to the prison system and the

reclassification form is use to reevaluate the prisoner’s scored custody level throughout

his or her incarceration based on his or her institutional conduct.

There are many problems that can occur within a prison system some include: faulty

detection systems, result from inadequate training and education on the part of the

officer. A guard who is not paying attention may be responsible for putting the

entire
institution in jeopardy this requires extensive training and education by the correctional
officer and flawless design in physical security, each officers has its own duty and
responsibility for protecting the institution, inmates, and the community. As part of the
American Jail Association's Code of Ethics, the correctional officer promises to keep the
institution secure so as to safeguard the community and the lives of the staff, inmates,
and visitors on the premises. They are responsible for the safety of large numbers of
individuals who are usually locked up and cannot protect themselves in many
emergency situations, the first priority for every jail is community protection, which
means that even in the chaos of a major emergency jails must ensure against escape.

Jail procedure:
Each shift should check daily, check all fire extinguishers to make
sure they are full also all fire alarms to assure they are in proper working order. If
breathing apparatus is available for officers to use during fires, make sure they are in
operable condition, check fire hoses to assure they are connected to a water supply and
have no visible cracks or holes in the hose. Check emergency exits to make sure they
work properly, are not blocked, and are properly marked and lit, test all openings with
security coverings to be certain they are securely locked. Test all telephones and
intercoms for proper performance, record all burned out lights and see that they are
replaced, determine that the emergency lighting system is in proper working order.
Assure that any mechanical surveillance device is in working order and that mirrors
revealing blind spots are properly positioned, check for broken windows, bars that bear
sawing marks, defective hinges, uplifted floor tiles, holes in the walls, holes cut into

mattresses. If the jail uses “inmate workers” or tier runners, determine at the beginning
of the shift who is working where and who is authorized to do what. Pay particular
attention to inmate behavior, an inmate who is normally friendly and talkative that
suddenly becomes quiet or withdrawn should be removed from the housing unit
immediately as well as those who seem suddenly agitated. The same is true for those
that are by nature quiet and withdrawn who suddenly become excited these inmates
should be interviewed to determine the sudden change in behavior and may require
medical treatment. The way in which inmates wear their jail uniforms may suggest gang
affiliation, inappropriate interaction between other officers and inmates should be
reported to supervisors.
Jail professionals take measures each day to prevent any escape or escape attempt by
performing regularly scheduled counts and informal counts. There shall be no less than
three documented prisoner counts per twenty four hour period with at least one on each
shift. Staff member conducting count will establish each prisoner’s physical presence by
show of skin or by movement. Patrolling perimeters, checking doors, bars, windows and
check perimeter detection systems. In the event of an escape, the goals of the facility
are to ensure public safety, apprehend the escapee, discover the method of escape and
secure it, report events and report corrective procedures. The On-Duty Supervisor
ensures that all involved units are given full cooperation in their investigations, it is
critical that the escape crime scene be secured and access controlled. The scene will
be searched by authorized personnel only no other personnel are allowed to enter the
crime scene or touch any objects in the crime scene.
Transportation operations procedure: At the beginning and end of each shift all vehicles
regularly used for prisoner transport shall be inspected by the agency member assigned
to that vehicle to determine that all safety devices are in working order and that the
interior is free of weapons and contraband. All prisoners shall be handcuffed double
locked and checked for proper application with their hands behind their back, transport

personnel shall document in their report that subject was handcuffed, checked for fit and
double-locked. All prisoners shall be secured with seatbelts no prisoner shall be
handcuffed to any part of the vehicle, all transports will be conducted by the Jailer with a
deputy jailer or two fully and properly trained deputy jailers. The jail personnel must be
armed, only properly trained personnel in firearms usage may transport prisoners.
The importance of leadership in an emergency cannot be overstated, the actions,
decisions style, presence, and direction of the person in charge will often determine the
outcome of a situation. A crisis in a prison or jail is by definition is very complex and
each situation is unique in many important aspects.