Correctional facility administrators understand the importance of creating a culture of safety. When those working and residing within these facilities have a sense of safety, personnel can focus on doing their work, and incidents become less common. Safety alert systems play a critical role in correctional officer safety and accelerate emergency response. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform® fosters a culture of safety by providing staff with wearable panic buttons that empower them to immediately request help to their precise location.

Correctional Officers Face Challenges

Correctional Officers in US facilities and detention centers work in complex environments that pose unique workplace safety challenges. These employees play a crucial role in managing and securing these facilities. They are required to maintain order, promote the safety of inmates and staff, and control the facility’s environment.

A significant rise in incarceration rates since the 1970s has led to an expansion of officer duties. In addition to traditional correctional officer safety measures, officers focus on human services, addressing inmates’ daily needs, and managing inmate work schedules. Officers must work shifts that cover all hours of the day and night, weekends, and holidays. 

Overcrowding Undermines Correctional Officer Safety

Leaders of correctional facilities, detention centers, and jails throughout the US are faced with managing facilities that are overcrowded and understaffed. These conditions have the potential to jeopardize the safety of the very people working to provide safety. These conditions contribute to violence—the physical and sexual assaults that occur within correctional facilities, which impact both inmates and staff. 

Administrators can address many of these issues by investing in correctional officer safety systems. By making these investments, correctional facility leaders address many of the fundamental problems that make facilities dangerous and make the recruitment and retention of correctional officers so challenging. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform® is the center of a multilayered safety plan that empowers staff to participate in the execution of safety protocols and reduces response time, both by facility personnel and emergency first responders. 

Addressing Correctional Officers’ Mental Health Needs

Correctional officers’ work is inherently stressful, demanding, and sometimes dangerous. As a result, these officers often experience related mental health challenges. Research suggests that correctional employees are facing a mental health crisis, with a high prevalence of mental health disorders and self-harming behaviors, even when compared with other law enforcement personnel. 

The psychologically taxing environment of correctional facilities may increase risks for stress, anxiety, burnout, suicide, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders. Another psychological risk factor is the possibility that people in custody may try to manipulate or coerce workers in the facility to obtain contraband items or services.

Unique Safety Considerations

Correctional institutions have unique safety and emergency response challenges. They need to be prepared to respond to emergencies specific to them, including:

• riots 
• hostage incidents
• terrorist threats
• hazardous material incidents

Many correctional facilities are located in isolated areas away from others, including emergency services, which complicates emergency preparedness and planning. Longer travel times may limit the ability of first responders to reach the facility or to transport inmates or staff to a hospital. Ultimately, longer response times negatively impact outcomes.

Correctional Officer Safety is Critical

Correctional officers are the backbone of safe and well-functioning detention facilities, playing a vital and often underrecognized role in our communities. Their commitment and professionalism are central to maintaining order and fostering a positive facility culture. Due to the demanding nature of correctional work, it’s not uncommon for facilities to face challenges with turnover.

The shortage of officers exacerbates correctional officer safety challenges across the board. Many states are experiencing a significant increase in the number of vacancies in their correctional facilities. As a result:

• Officers work more overtime, including through holidays and weekends. This can lead to staff burnout and sub-optimal working conditions. 
• The officer-to-inmate ratio is inadequate. A designated number of officers are required to keep inmates, officers, and other staff safe. 

Ultimately, correctional officers and employees serve a crucial yet underappreciated role in our justice system. It’s tough, high-stakes work. Widespread staffing shortages, mandated overtime, and dangerous working conditions take a toll on these workers. Employers can mitigate these conditions by investing in safety systems designed to empower and protect them. To recruit and retain an effective workforce, administrators must prioritize workplace safety.  

CENTEGIX Safety Platform Creates a Culture of Safety in Correctional Facilities

CENTEGIX correctional officer safety solutions improve officers’ safety and well-being at work by fostering a culture of safety and accelerating emergency response. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform is an investment in staff safety, which is an investment in improved work conditions and mental health impacts. Safety Platform is the center of a multilayered correctional facility safety plan. Safety Platform features include:

• Easy installation and maintenance
• Direct communication with law enforcement and first responders
• Precise location information of emergency alerts and nearby safety assets
• Customizable alerts
• A data dashboard that helps identify actionable information

CENTEGIX CrisisAlert

CrisisAlert™, part of the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, is a wearable panic button that transmits alerts directly to designated staff and emergency responders. Every staff member wears a CrisisAlert badge, making it easy to immediately summon help and initiate safety protocols. In addition, correctional facilities can issue CrisisAlert badges to vendors, contractors, healthcare providers, and others whose work is critical to facility safety and security on a regular basis. CrisisAlert:

• Is discreet. CrisisAlert wearable panic button is worn discreetly beside an employee badge and can be activated unnoticed, requesting help to the exact location of the incident.

• Integrates into a facility’s existing safety system, thus enhancing existing correctional officer safety investments.
• Does not require specialized officer training or expertise. Officers can push the button on their badge and know that help has been notified.
• Can be integrated into 911 networks to summon immediate emergency response and remain in contact with law enforcement or first responders throughout an incident. 

Safety Blueprint

CENTEGIX Safety Blueprint® is the critical incident mapping component of the CENTEGIX Safety Platform. Facility administrators can update the Safety Blueprint map in real time, thus providing accurate locations of safety assets, temporary changes to facility infrastructure, and ongoing incidents. Safety Blueprint:

• Provides room-level pinpoint location information of alerts and evacuation routes
• Makes visible the locations of nearby safety assets, including AEDs, first aid kits, stop bleed kits, Narcan kits, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment.
• Provides a singular, authoritative source of information during emergency incidents
• Enhances law enforcement and first responders’ situational awareness into events and available safety equipment

Visitor Management

With CENTEGIX Visitor Management, facilities can authenticate and authorize staff and visitors. The Visitor Management system offers secure sign-in and sign-out processes for contractors, vendors, and guests. Facility staff are empowered to quickly and efficiently check in and authenticate visitors. For even greater visitor accountability, the CENTEGIX Enhanced Visitor Management system displays visitor locations in real time.

The CENTEGIX Safety Platform is an all-in-one solution with hardware that is monitored and maintained by CENTEGIX expert staff. CENTEGIX provides training and is available for technical assistance throughout the lifespan of the Safety Platform.  

To learn more about how CENTEGIX Safety Platform should be the center of your facility’s multilayered safety plan, request a demonstration today.