Introduction
The security of correctional staff is one of the greatest challenges facing the U.S. prison department due to the risks present in such settings. The safety of the officers on duty can be improved using the relevant technologies and systems as they make them flexible and their work easier. This essay examines the security issues affecting corrections human resources and proposes the Internet Protocol (IP) video surveillance system as one of the best strategies that can be used by prison administrators to deal with such threats.
Security of Correctional Officers
According to the research that was conducted by the Sentencing Project (2015), over the last forty years, the number of prisoners in the United States has increased by 500%. Despite the unprecedented statistics, the number of prisons and other correctional facilities has not proportionally risen to accommodate the additional inmates. Therefore, overcrowding and the lack of proper monitoring of the prisoners are some of the grounds for the increase in the threats to the security of correctional officers.
The safety of prison wardens should be given high priority since some incarcerated individuals constantly look for opportunities to attack the former, especially when they are on duty. Although the security at the facility is often very tight, the warders face numerous challenges, including working for long hours and personal issues at home, making them vulnerable to attacks by such inmates. For that reason, the correctional department should invest in superior technology and surveillance systems to not only ensure tight security in jail settings but also safeguard its officers against such dangers.
According to Guercio (2014), the threats to the safety of prison custodians are caused by the weak security and surveillance systems in the correctional facilities, which have not been upgraded with the rising needs. To enhance the security of the officers, it important for the correctional department to invest in Internet Protocol (IP) video surveillance systems because of their efficiency and effectiveness compared to their traditional and analog counterparts.
In this regard, unlike the latter technology, the former is connected to the internet thus providing the officers on duty with the ability to monitor the system from any location. The IP surveillance system has enhanced flexibility and efficiency due to the advanced high-tech features on the camera, which allow for high definition and sharp images. Apart from having more megapixels and producing sharp videos and pictures, the know-how also has video-based search tools that allow the officers to monitor inaccessible areas without straining.
Another advantage of installing an IP video system is that it can be connected to video management software that enables the establishment of a connection to other private networks for easier and flexible monitoring from any location in the detention center. Therefore, thanks to the Internet access capability of the video surveillance, prison staffs can comfortably work for long hours by monitoring the system from a convenient location. Guercio (2014) also adds that the IP video surveillance technology allows the officers to stream live CCTV footage from any position in the correction center using electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Conclusion
The security of correctional officers should be given high priority considering the bad blood that usually exists between them and prisoners. The use of IP video surveillance systems can help to promote flexibility at their places of work and make their job easier. The unique advantage about the know-how is that it can connect to the Internet, which enables the wardens to monitor the correctional facility from convenient remote locations.
References
Guercio, G. F. (2014, May/June). Video advancements tighten security. Corrections Forum, 23(3), 38-43.
The Sentencing Project (2015, December). Fact sheet: Trends in U.S corrections. Retrieved from http://sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Trends-in-US-Corrections.pdf
