Mid 21st Century Criminal Justice: Transforming Work Culture
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2023
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2023
Pages: 156
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Much has been written about the problems within our criminal justice system, both law enforcement and corrections, but never before has that been presented along with the causes of those problems and specific strategies to correct them. This unique and remarkable book, based on Shuford’s 30 years of experience, is a must read for criminal justice policy makers, leadership, supervisors as well as educators in preparing students for careers in criminal justice. This content packed text will lead the reader from research based consequences of criminal justice employee stress through an analysis of neurological and cultural variables that contribute to that stress to comprehensive yet precisely designed strategies for change and how to apply them. It is a practical guide for criminal justice leadership, training academies; and educators will find it an invaluable supplemental text for advanced policing and corrections courses and criminal justice administration and management courses. It is about time that the criminal justice field had such a resource to carry it into the 21st century.
CHAPTER 1: EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS ON AGENCY STAFF
CHAPTER 2: SOURCES OF STAFF STRESS
CHAPTER 3: CURRENT EFFORTS AND BRAIN SCIENCE
CHAPTER 4: THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
CHAPTER 5: STRATEGY FOR CULTURE CHANGE
APPENDIX
John has volunteered with the Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] for 35 years. He was on the organizing leadership teams of AVP USA [President, Vice-President, Treasurer] and AVP International [Vice-President] and he also served on numerous committees of those organizations. He started or re-started AVP programs in Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina.
John is regarded as the developer and national leader of the Immersion-Experiential training design for correctional staff development, which utilizes the AVP design. He has developed several specialized trainings: Teambuilding Attitude Conflict Transformational training, the Effective Supervisor Skills training and the Teambuilding Attitude and De-escalation Training. He has been published in numerous national and international publications, including: the American Correctional Association’s “Corrections Today,” the American Jail Association’s “American Jails,” the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel’s “Correctional Trainer,” the Alternatives to Violence Project/USA’s “Transformer,” the “Russian Federal Penitentiary Service Journal,” [the only non-Russian to be published] the “International Journal of Trauma Research and Practice,” “Friends Journal,” “CorrectionsConnection.com,” “Conciliation Quarterly” and the “Guidance Channel.” In 2023, Kendal Hunt published his book, “Mid-21st Century Criminal Justice; Transforming Work Culture,” which is directed at decision makers and educational institutions educating future criminal justice professionals.
John is an internationally recognized trainer, having developed and delivered innovative staff development trainings for many governmental agencies as well as Departments of Corrections in 7 states and two foreign counties [Russia and South Africa], the National Institute of Corrections and the United States Office of Safety and Health Administration. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences and has led international conflict resolution delegations to Russia, South Africa and China, and provided trainings in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and in West and Southern Africa. He has been honored by the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel with their “2004 Award of Excellence” and their “2018 Award of Excellence.”
John was trained as a clinical mental health therapist and in advanced leadership. He has held positions as executive director of health care facilities, the National Association of Social Workers (Delaware), LPCANC (the association for clinical mental health counselors in North Carolina), and the Delaware Reentry Consortium. He has also been the Clinical Director of the First State CISM team and was Correctional Training Coordinator 2 with the North Carolina Department of Prisons.
"This book should be included in any curriculum in Criminal Justice Studies. It describes dysfunctional culture within the prison system and documents the damage this culture inflicts on the health of prison employees. More importantly, it provides a vision for a more healthy culture of prison administration, and draws on the author's three decades of experience providing workshops in prisons to lay out a path for culture change and transformation of the prison system. It is a valuable resource for those preparing for criminal justice work, for current supervisors and other criminal justice employees, and for policy makers."
Dr. Vernie Davis
Professor Emeritus of Cultural Anthropology and Peace & Conflict Studies
Former Director Conflict Resolution Resource Center, Guilford College
"It is excellent, right on target! A practical guide for leadership with some real and true real world examples that can be understood at any level. Changing the work culture is so very important, equally as important as improving pay and benefits that many seem to be continually focused on as the only need... but without the culture improvements agencies will continue to struggle with turnover and the poor health and life expectancy of staff despite pay improvements."
Tim Moose
Chief Deputy Secretary, NC Department of Public Safety, Adult Correction & Juvenile Justice
"The psychological and physical health needs of Criminal Justice staff beyond the necessary but not sufficient "going home safe at the end of the shift" is finally receiving the attention it deserves. Agency training catalogues, selection and promotion processes, and employee cultures are under the wellness microscope in many locations. If you work in one of those jurisdictions or would like to pave the way for such an initiative, this text is a must. In this content packed text, the reader will be led from research-based consequences of criminal justice employee stress through an analysis of both the neurological and cultural variables that contribute to that stress to a comprehensive yet precisely designed strategy for change, which John has developed during his 30-year career. You will find powerful descriptions of not just what strategies to use, but how to apply them, and what behavioral and psychological principles they address."
Gregory Morton, M.Sc.
Administrator of Staff Training and Professional Development (Retd.), Oregon Department of Corrections
"Mid-21st Century Criminal Justice: Transforming the Work Culture is an essential read for both law enforcement and correctional executives if they want to implement proven strategies to retail talented staff. For educators, it is also a useful supplemental text for an advanced policing or corrections course or a criminal justice administration and management course. Shuford first focuses on why traditional work cultures in policing and corrections are problematic and then provides tangible and actionable solutions to reform work culture to improve morale. A supplemental text that incorporates practical application is a welcome addition for courses that examine management, administration, and leadership in policing and correctional contexts."
Dr. Heidi S. Bonner, Director
Criminal Justice Department, East Carolina University
"I spent the past year away from corrections after being in the department for seven years. I hadn’t noticed how withdrawn I’d become from society over the years, how much I’d changed inherently as a human due to the continued chronic stress brought on by the job over the years. This text has helped me better understand the changes that have happened in my mind, how to maintain a more positive outlook overall, and how to look forward without becoming overwhelmed."
Valerie Kozora
Former Corrections Officer
"The field of law enforcement, including corrections, is facing several problems that in recent years have had a profound impact on those of us that have worked the line, served as trainers, and supervised staff. These problems have included shortage of staff and staff stress. Law enforcement supervisors and trainers must use every resource possible to effectively deal with these issues. Staff stress and wellness are critical to professionalism in operations and morale. The better that morale and training are, the chances of staff staying in the agency and making a career in law enforcement increase.
As a retired jail deputy and corrections author and trainer, I am always on the lookout for useful resource material about the field of corrections. The book Mid-21st Century Criminal Justice: Transforming Work Culture is a useful resource for police and corrections trainers and supervisors. The author, John A. Shuford, is an experienced expert and trainer in staff development, with over 30 years of experience. He also has a background as a clinical mental health therapist and executive leadership in healthcare facilities. John has collaborated with criminal justice agencies concerning staff wellness and training. He is the president of Collaborative Resolution Services, Inc.
The theme of the book is a frank, clear and well-thought-out discussion of emotional intelligence and stress, and how both affect the workplaces of corrections and police. It is concise and illustrates important data. The strength of this book is the close correlation between the data and the real world of the corrections/police workplace. In Chapter 1 for example, Shuford opens with data on staff fatigue then discusses how it applies to job performance. This approach is useful to a trainer tasked with putting together a Power Point presentation on stress and job performance.
Inserted in the book are comments and insights from practitioners in law enforcement-the people on the line, on patrol and inside institutions. I found these valuable. Supervisor views are also mentioned. Supervisor training is continuing to develop, and this book can help.
In Chapter 4, Shuford discusses the training of staff as related to emotional intelligence. As a trainer, the section on the four E’s, engage, energize, empower, and enjoy can be part of any train the trainer or instructor training program.
Chapter 5 is remarkably interesting. It has guidelines on preventing micromanagement and how to improve supervision of staff. I especially liked the sections on happiness in staff and supervisors expressing gratitude. If one enters the supervisory phase of a law enforcement career, the material in this book is invaluable.
One aspect of this book that must be mentioned is its central theme-staff wellness and development. The author is to be commended for this approach, and throughout the book it remains in focus.
To summarize, this work should be in the library of every law enforcement supervisor and trainer. Well written and very professionally researched, it can serve as a useful tool for trainers, supervisors, and all law enforcement professionals, both new and veterans. I highly recommend this book and commend John Shuford for his excellent work.
Gary F. Cornelius retired from the Fairfax County, Virginia Office of the Sheriff, after 27 years of service. He is an instructor, consultant, and corrections author. He teaches corrections in-service classes throughout Virginia and has developed training materials for Justice Clearinghouse and Lexipol. His column Talks About Training is on Corrections1. His latest book, The HighPerformance Correctional Facility: Lessons on Correctional Work, Leadership and Effectiveness is available from the Civic Research Institute. Gary resides in Williamsburg, Virginia and can be reached at adjinstructor@hotmail.com."
Gary F. Cornelius
Much has been written about the problems within our criminal justice system, both law enforcement and corrections, but never before has that been presented along with the causes of those problems and specific strategies to correct them. This unique and remarkable book, based on Shuford’s 30 years of experience, is a must read for criminal justice policy makers, leadership, supervisors as well as educators in preparing students for careers in criminal justice. This content packed text will lead the reader from research based consequences of criminal justice employee stress through an analysis of neurological and cultural variables that contribute to that stress to comprehensive yet precisely designed strategies for change and how to apply them. It is a practical guide for criminal justice leadership, training academies; and educators will find it an invaluable supplemental text for advanced policing and corrections courses and criminal justice administration and management courses. It is about time that the criminal justice field had such a resource to carry it into the 21st century.
CHAPTER 1: EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS ON AGENCY STAFF
CHAPTER 2: SOURCES OF STAFF STRESS
CHAPTER 3: CURRENT EFFORTS AND BRAIN SCIENCE
CHAPTER 4: THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
CHAPTER 5: STRATEGY FOR CULTURE CHANGE
APPENDIX
John has volunteered with the Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] for 35 years. He was on the organizing leadership teams of AVP USA [President, Vice-President, Treasurer] and AVP International [Vice-President] and he also served on numerous committees of those organizations. He started or re-started AVP programs in Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina.
John is regarded as the developer and national leader of the Immersion-Experiential training design for correctional staff development, which utilizes the AVP design. He has developed several specialized trainings: Teambuilding Attitude Conflict Transformational training, the Effective Supervisor Skills training and the Teambuilding Attitude and De-escalation Training. He has been published in numerous national and international publications, including: the American Correctional Association’s “Corrections Today,” the American Jail Association’s “American Jails,” the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel’s “Correctional Trainer,” the Alternatives to Violence Project/USA’s “Transformer,” the “Russian Federal Penitentiary Service Journal,” [the only non-Russian to be published] the “International Journal of Trauma Research and Practice,” “Friends Journal,” “CorrectionsConnection.com,” “Conciliation Quarterly” and the “Guidance Channel.” In 2023, Kendal Hunt published his book, “Mid-21st Century Criminal Justice; Transforming Work Culture,” which is directed at decision makers and educational institutions educating future criminal justice professionals.
John is an internationally recognized trainer, having developed and delivered innovative staff development trainings for many governmental agencies as well as Departments of Corrections in 7 states and two foreign counties [Russia and South Africa], the National Institute of Corrections and the United States Office of Safety and Health Administration. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences and has led international conflict resolution delegations to Russia, South Africa and China, and provided trainings in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and in West and Southern Africa. He has been honored by the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel with their “2004 Award of Excellence” and their “2018 Award of Excellence.”
John was trained as a clinical mental health therapist and in advanced leadership. He has held positions as executive director of health care facilities, the National Association of Social Workers (Delaware), LPCANC (the association for clinical mental health counselors in North Carolina), and the Delaware Reentry Consortium. He has also been the Clinical Director of the First State CISM team and was Correctional Training Coordinator 2 with the North Carolina Department of Prisons.
"This book should be included in any curriculum in Criminal Justice Studies. It describes dysfunctional culture within the prison system and documents the damage this culture inflicts on the health of prison employees. More importantly, it provides a vision for a more healthy culture of prison administration, and draws on the author's three decades of experience providing workshops in prisons to lay out a path for culture change and transformation of the prison system. It is a valuable resource for those preparing for criminal justice work, for current supervisors and other criminal justice employees, and for policy makers."
Dr. Vernie Davis
Professor Emeritus of Cultural Anthropology and Peace & Conflict Studies
Former Director Conflict Resolution Resource Center, Guilford College
"It is excellent, right on target! A practical guide for leadership with some real and true real world examples that can be understood at any level. Changing the work culture is so very important, equally as important as improving pay and benefits that many seem to be continually focused on as the only need... but without the culture improvements agencies will continue to struggle with turnover and the poor health and life expectancy of staff despite pay improvements."
Tim Moose
Chief Deputy Secretary, NC Department of Public Safety, Adult Correction & Juvenile Justice
"The psychological and physical health needs of Criminal Justice staff beyond the necessary but not sufficient "going home safe at the end of the shift" is finally receiving the attention it deserves. Agency training catalogues, selection and promotion processes, and employee cultures are under the wellness microscope in many locations. If you work in one of those jurisdictions or would like to pave the way for such an initiative, this text is a must. In this content packed text, the reader will be led from research-based consequences of criminal justice employee stress through an analysis of both the neurological and cultural variables that contribute to that stress to a comprehensive yet precisely designed strategy for change, which John has developed during his 30-year career. You will find powerful descriptions of not just what strategies to use, but how to apply them, and what behavioral and psychological principles they address."
Gregory Morton, M.Sc.
Administrator of Staff Training and Professional Development (Retd.), Oregon Department of Corrections
"Mid-21st Century Criminal Justice: Transforming the Work Culture is an essential read for both law enforcement and correctional executives if they want to implement proven strategies to retail talented staff. For educators, it is also a useful supplemental text for an advanced policing or corrections course or a criminal justice administration and management course. Shuford first focuses on why traditional work cultures in policing and corrections are problematic and then provides tangible and actionable solutions to reform work culture to improve morale. A supplemental text that incorporates practical application is a welcome addition for courses that examine management, administration, and leadership in policing and correctional contexts."
Dr. Heidi S. Bonner, Director
Criminal Justice Department, East Carolina University
"I spent the past year away from corrections after being in the department for seven years. I hadn’t noticed how withdrawn I’d become from society over the years, how much I’d changed inherently as a human due to the continued chronic stress brought on by the job over the years. This text has helped me better understand the changes that have happened in my mind, how to maintain a more positive outlook overall, and how to look forward without becoming overwhelmed."
Valerie Kozora
Former Corrections Officer
"The field of law enforcement, including corrections, is facing several problems that in recent years have had a profound impact on those of us that have worked the line, served as trainers, and supervised staff. These problems have included shortage of staff and staff stress. Law enforcement supervisors and trainers must use every resource possible to effectively deal with these issues. Staff stress and wellness are critical to professionalism in operations and morale. The better that morale and training are, the chances of staff staying in the agency and making a career in law enforcement increase.
As a retired jail deputy and corrections author and trainer, I am always on the lookout for useful resource material about the field of corrections. The book Mid-21st Century Criminal Justice: Transforming Work Culture is a useful resource for police and corrections trainers and supervisors. The author, John A. Shuford, is an experienced expert and trainer in staff development, with over 30 years of experience. He also has a background as a clinical mental health therapist and executive leadership in healthcare facilities. John has collaborated with criminal justice agencies concerning staff wellness and training. He is the president of Collaborative Resolution Services, Inc.
The theme of the book is a frank, clear and well-thought-out discussion of emotional intelligence and stress, and how both affect the workplaces of corrections and police. It is concise and illustrates important data. The strength of this book is the close correlation between the data and the real world of the corrections/police workplace. In Chapter 1 for example, Shuford opens with data on staff fatigue then discusses how it applies to job performance. This approach is useful to a trainer tasked with putting together a Power Point presentation on stress and job performance.
Inserted in the book are comments and insights from practitioners in law enforcement-the people on the line, on patrol and inside institutions. I found these valuable. Supervisor views are also mentioned. Supervisor training is continuing to develop, and this book can help.
In Chapter 4, Shuford discusses the training of staff as related to emotional intelligence. As a trainer, the section on the four E’s, engage, energize, empower, and enjoy can be part of any train the trainer or instructor training program.
Chapter 5 is remarkably interesting. It has guidelines on preventing micromanagement and how to improve supervision of staff. I especially liked the sections on happiness in staff and supervisors expressing gratitude. If one enters the supervisory phase of a law enforcement career, the material in this book is invaluable.
One aspect of this book that must be mentioned is its central theme-staff wellness and development. The author is to be commended for this approach, and throughout the book it remains in focus.
To summarize, this work should be in the library of every law enforcement supervisor and trainer. Well written and very professionally researched, it can serve as a useful tool for trainers, supervisors, and all law enforcement professionals, both new and veterans. I highly recommend this book and commend John Shuford for his excellent work.
Gary F. Cornelius retired from the Fairfax County, Virginia Office of the Sheriff, after 27 years of service. He is an instructor, consultant, and corrections author. He teaches corrections in-service classes throughout Virginia and has developed training materials for Justice Clearinghouse and Lexipol. His column Talks About Training is on Corrections1. His latest book, The HighPerformance Correctional Facility: Lessons on Correctional Work, Leadership and Effectiveness is available from the Civic Research Institute. Gary resides in Williamsburg, Virginia and can be reached at adjinstructor@hotmail.com."
Gary F. Cornelius