Anne Arundel Department of Corrections is national leader in bolstering risk management in local detention centers with new peer and supervisor intervention strategies before and during a potentially harmful incident.
As previously covered on Conduit Street, Anne Arundel County Superintendent of Detention Facilities, Christopher Klein, was tapped to host a nationwide webinar on proactive strategies to foster a culture of peer accountability and support to prevent misconduct. The session that took place last week was moderated by Abigail Tucker, and featured insights from Lieutenant Colonel Kathy Fontenot and Superintendent Klein. They discussed the significant occupational and emotional risks in corrections, including trauma exposure and staff assaults. Both speakers emphasized the importance of preventing mistakes and misconduct by fostering a culture of accountability and support. They shared real-life examples illustrating the impact of active intervention on staff well-being and organizational resilience.
The webinar highlighted the necessity of continuous training and professional development to empower staff to act proactively, reduce harm and support colleagues’ mental health.
Here are the key takeaways from the webinar:
- The importance of active bystandership: Active bystandership is crucial for preventing mistakes and misconduct, fostering accountability and supporting a resilient correctional culture.
- Continuous staff development: Continuous training and professional development are essential to equip correctional staff with the skills needed to intervene effectively and support colleagues.
- Recognizing distress action: Active bystandership involves recognizing distress and taking positive action, contrasting with passive bystandership that allows harm to continue.
- Positive bystandership impact: Real-life examples provided demonstrate the positive impact of active bystandership on staff well-being and the importance of a supportive environment.
- Engaging leadership training: Leaders should prioritize engaging and interactive training to build confidence and competency in active bystandership, ultimately reducing misconduct and improving overall workforce resilience.