Signs of a Potential Inmate Disturbance

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Signs of a Potential Inmate Disturbance

 

Gordon Graham
Category: Corrections

Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. And Today’s Tip deals with identifying the signs of an impending inmate disturbance in the jail.

It is our job to interpret these signs and take positive action to prevent or minimize any disruptive event.

Few things in the correctional environment are more disruptive to the normal order of business, the safety of inmates and staff and the security of the jail than an inmate disturbance.

Fortunately, there are few things we can do to predict these events. Some of the signs of a potential disturbance may include:

  • An unusual gathering of inmates, often based on race. 
  • A diversionary tactic, causing our attention to be drawn elsewhere. 
  • A distinct rise in the noise level or a total lack of normal noise. 
  • An inmate with attention focused only on an officer, a potential look-out. 
  • Inmates afraid to leave their bunks, even to go to a meal or to the exercise yard. 
  • Inmates making a request that might cause an officer to leave a post temporarily. 
  • New inmate groups forming in the housing area or in the exercise yard, especially with gang affiliations.   
  • And, the hording of commissary items.

All of these are signs of an impending inmate disturbance. It is our job to interpret these signs and take positive action to prevent or minimize any disruptive event.

We can intercede by correctly assessing the situation, giving verbal commands, separating inmates and responding with sufficient and properly equipped staff to isolate any potential problem.

Remember, predictable is preventable.

And that is Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signing off. 

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