Direct Supervision Managing a correctional organization is not an easy task. It takes a great deal of thought and strategy to properly run a home for criminals, especially when many of those criminals can be unruly and poorly behaved, and perhaps even dangerous. It is important to establish a system in which inmates are distinguished from one another. For instance, those inmates who present a threat to other inmates, staff, or even themselves will need more security and supervision than those who pose no threat.

Traditional facilities organize their inmates according to those who need maximum, medium, and minimum security. However, there has been a new trend in correctional organizations that is called "direct supervision." This concept allows correctional officers to interact directly with inmates, thus allowing officers to manage inmates' behavior at a much more detailed level (National Institute of Corrections).

Direct supervision can be distinguished from other management approaches in a few ways. First, the setting is different from traditional jail facilities. Inmates under direct supervision live in cells that are arranged around a common area, often called a pod or a day room. In this room, there is no secure control booth for the supervising officer, and there are no physical barriers between the officer and the inmates. While the officer might have a table or desk reserved for paperwork, it is still within the open area of the day room (National Institute of Corrections). This...

Thus, if inmates have this sense of freedom, they might be less likely to misbehave.
The management style of the supervising officer is also different from that of a traditional officer in a typical correctional organization. In this situation, the officer stationed in each pod is in direct control of the inmates, and will move about freely so he or she can interact with the inmates to better manage their behavior (National Institute of Corrections). The officer is then able to manage inmates' behavior in a positive manner. He or she might offer rewards for good behavior; however, if an inmate strays from positive behavior, this can result in a loss of privileges or disciplinary action (Sarasota County Sheriff's Office).

Each correctional facility might organize its pods differently. For instance, in Oswego County, New York, pods are arranged into three different security levels. Each level has increasingly better accommodations. The lowest-ranked cells simply have a metal bed, a sink, a small desk, and a toilet. The next level of cells opens out into small "sub-day areas" with tables and seats. At the highest rank, cells and the sub-day area open into a large, communal area with tables, chairs, and even telephones (Oswego County Sheriff's Department). This ranking system offers great incentives for inmates to maintain positive behavior.

In Oswego County, the three direct supervision pods…