ETHICS and knowledge, not power and pressure, are the new cornerstones of inmate management and institutional development, says Prison Superintendent Dr Elliston Rahming.
Addressing the opening session of an ‘intensive’ 40-hour Correctional Leadership Course, Dr Rahming said the course should help to reshape some of the more outmoded philosophies of prison management as opposed to corrections management.
“Brute force, might and oppression is an outmoded philosophy that is mostly dysfunctional when carrying out the functions of correctional facilities worldwide,” Dr Rahming said yesterday.
“Policies and procedures, not position and personalities, ethics and knowledge, not power and pressure, are the new cornerstones of inmate management and institutional advancement.
“If we are going to maximise our potential (at Her Majesty’s Prison), then we must have a workforce that reflects the five Es of excellence which are experience, exposure, education, ethics and enthusiasm,” Dr Rahming added.
Dr Rahming said the course would help officers from the ranks of corporals to chief officer attain those five Es.
Funded by the United States Embassy, Nassau, and the US State Department, the four-day course is intended to share best practices in the management of corrections facilities as Her Majesty’s Prison continues its move towards becoming a correctional facility.
Fifty-three officers from the ranks of Corporal to Chief Officer have been selected to participate in the course that is being put on by members of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
“The intended transformation of Her Majesty’s Prison must be deliberate, all-encompassing and sustainable which I have encapsulated into a package I call the seven Ps of prison reform and they are: philosophy and/or principles, policies, procedures, personnel, premises and potentials,” Dr Rahming said.
“In a nutshell, our philosophy is a road-map that tells us who we are and why we exist.
“Our policies determine what we stand for and our procedure help to ensure that we go about our work as a united force – not as disjointed parts.
“Our personnel, of course, constitute the backbone of the organisation, giving life to our philosophy; giving voice to our policies; lending focus to our procedures.
“Our programmes reflect what we offer as agents of positive change and our premises paint a picture of our institutional pride and commitment to safety and security or a lack thereof.”
The Prison Superintendent said at the end of the training the 53 participating officers should be able to convince their colleagues why corrections, as a philosophy, is more than a slogan, but is a dynamic, tried and tested approach.
One-half of the group will also join the Superintendent on a visit to a correctional facility in Florida.
“This will allow them to be able to walk the corridors, evaluate the work programmes and share best practices with their counterparts in Florida,” Dr Rahming said.
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