Leadership for the Jail/Corrections Professional [2024]

Most people do not realize, nor do they want to know, what an average day for a correctional officer looks like.  Many of the future employees are young, are used to an electronic world, and will often quit within a few weeks of being exposed to inmates.  Good leadership can help get  new employees to buy into the agency, see the value of their work, and turn them into long-term employees.

Leadership is about two main things – influencing and motivating.  But the way in which one leads makes all the difference. 

This course is intended as a very brief introduction to leadership and is designed to get you thinking about your leadership style.  Leadership will be defined and different styles of leadership and where they get their basis of power will be discussed.  Then, the difference between good and bad leadership will be shown.  

The topics of followers and their critical role in your leadership and what motivates people and how we, as leaders, can identify those motivators in our officers are addressed.

Finally, the discussion moves to self-reflection and self-improvement. True leaders can “look in the mirror” and say, maybe the challenge I am having is internal …… and only then can you change the way you lead. 

This course provides basic leadership “tools” to put in your leadership toolbox.

Leadership is always important, but it is critical to recruitment and retention of young men and women as corrections officers.     Leadership is one of the most critical and rewarding positions at any agency as you can influence behavior in a positive manner and groom future leaders.