Certified Employees: Taking Correctional Facilities and Personnel to the Next Level

• NCJ Number: 206974
• Journal: Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 66 Issue: 5 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 120-123
• Author(s): C. Martin Lensing
• Date Published: August 2004
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the strides toward professionalism taken by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Abstract

Since the 1970’s, Louisiana’s correctional system has been under court supervision for overcrowded conditions and constitutional problems. In 1999, Louisiana’s correctional system freed itself of court supervision by undergoing a process of professionalization, which began in 1991 when the department began the process of American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation for every State facility. After gaining accreditation for every State facility and, in 1999, the agency headquarters, the evolution of Louisiana’s correctional system turned to a focus on the professional development of its employees. The department made career choices open to employees and offered many opportunities for professional advancement through training courses and professional accreditation. ACA’s Correctional Certification Program was offered to the department’s employees beginning in 2000; employees were encouraged to participate through an employee rewards program providing recognition and monetary awards. The process of employee certification offers continuous learning opportunities because those accredited through the ACA must maintain their certification through continued professional development. The professional certification process thus produces benefits for the employees by keeping them challenged and offering them career choices, and it benefits the correctional institution as a whole as employees become more motivated and better trained in their field. The public image of the correctional system also changes for the better, thus attracting qualified job applicants. Louisiana continues to strive for professionalism through publications by staff in professional magazines and through participation in the ACA’s many professional development opportunities, such as the Online Corrections Academy. Louisiana’s commitment to the professionalization of its facilities and employees provides an excellent example of the strides correctional agencies can make toward a more efficient corrections system.