NJ Cops Sept18 | Page 22

CORRECTIONS Intelligence and networking are the links to our safety and future How do you stop contraband from entering a fa- cility? How can we decrease assaults? How do you prevent a potential violent uprising? How do you deal with drones? How do you find out about gang activity in your facility? How do you deal with fentanyl? How do you learn about strong-arming, loan sharking or intimidation in the facility? How do we know which inmates are on medica- tion or have mental health issues? BRIAN DAWE How do we learn about enemy situations? How do we stop inmate cellphone communication? What is the one thing we need most to maintain a safe correc- tional environment? Intel How do we find out about other officers’ salaries, benefits and pensions? How do we compare superior contract language or legislation with our own? How do we get information on communicable diseases, as- sault statistics, the impact of consolidation, privatization, PTSD, officer suicide, riots, escapes, etc.? Where can we find certified correctional experts to testify on our behalf? Where can we find the research we need to address the myri- ad issues we face every day? How do we share intel and develop a united voice to address our universal concerns? Networking Who can we turn to? Do we have to call every county? Do we have to call every state, DOC or COs union? What about states without unions representing COs? There are more than 3,200 county jails and 1,800 state and federal correctional facilities. We would have to make 5,000 calls to reach them all. When we need information on corrections, we don’t go to the media, or academia, or the government. Getting statistics on corrections has become very difficult since the Patriot Act