Jail Standards and Inspection Programs, Resource - National ...

nnnnnIdentify emerging and continuing issues facingjails that inspection programs may havea role in resolving.Discuss strategies and resources for dealingsuccessfully with these issues.Discuss potential methods by which NIC canhelp jail inspection programs stay currentand enhance their capacity to work with jailsin their respective jurisdictions.Develop and enhance the lines of communicationamong the various state inspectionprograms.Assist states and jail-related organizationsinterested in establishing jail inspectionprograms.Network activity takes place primarily throughan annual meeting hosted by NIC and a privatee-mail discussion list. Network membersgain information they can use to improve theirrespective inspection programs, receive briefingson rapidly changing developments, have instantaccess to a national network of their peers, andestablish face-to-face networking relationships.The State Jail Inspectors Network offers representativesfrom states or jail-related organizationsthat are engaged in developing andimplementing jail standards programs opportunitiesto participate in Network activities and communicatewith Network members. Additionally,NIC may draw on the expertise of Networkmembers to provide information or resources onspecific issues or deliver technical assistance torequesting agencies or organizations.To join the State Jail Inspectors Network orrequest assistance from the Network members,contact the NIC Jails Division.TrainingNIC offers specialized training for jail inspectorsand related staff of inspection agencies.These resources include the companion publicationsJail Inspection Basics: An IntroductorySelf-Study Course for Jail Inspectors and JailInspection Basics: Supervisor’s Guide (Rosazza,2007a and 2007b) and the 4½-day DetentionFacility Inspector Training Program.The Jail Inspection Basics self-study courseis an entry-level course for new inspectors. Itcovers legal issues, standards, the inspectionprocess, facility design and its impact on operations,communication, government structuresand processes, and resources available to jailinspectors. The supervisor’s guide is a resourceto help supervisors facilitate and evaluate thenew inspector’s learning process. Supervisorscan also use this guide to relate the material inthe self-study course to the agency’s needs andthe state’s specific standards and to support realtimeassessments.The Detention Facility Inspector TrainingProgram highlights specific aspects of the jailinspector’s job and addresses the inspectionprocess, the provision of technical assistance,review of construction plans, ethics, currentissues and trends, and how to stay on track. Thistraining program, which is not typically includedin NIC’s annual service plan, is offered intermittently,depending on the availability of resourcesand the level of need. The program materials—lesson plans, participant manual, handouts, andslides—are available to states or organizationsinterested in offering the training on a local orregional basis. NIC also routinely accepts jailinspectors into other jail-related training programsto increase their overall knowledge andskills in jail administration, planning, andoperations.