Employing a “Community Policing” Approach to Jail Management: An Examination of its Efficacy in Promoting Organizational Safety and Health in Corrections

• In Event: Safety, Health and Wellness in Criminal Justice:  Data from 9-1-1 Operators, Police, and Correctional Officers

Abstract

Jails can often be unsafe and unhealthy places not only for inmates but also for jail personnel. Despite efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment, traditional jail management methods leave room for improvement, presenting an opportunity for exploring approaches, such as community policing, that can help promote a culture of health. While correctional settings seem to be a place in which community policing strategies may be effective for problem solving and promoting safety and health, there is a surprising dearth of research on the implementation of these types of strategies in jails and other correctional settings. The Police Foundation is evaluating the impact of a pilot “town sheriff” model of jail management implemented on a floor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Men’s Central Jail to assess its impact on improving health, safety, and wellness.

Author

• Maria Valdovinos, Police Foundation