|
|
| Cultural Diversity Training: Achieving the ‘Smooth Shift’ |
| By Gary F. Cornelius, First Lt. (Retired) |
| Published: 07/15/2019 |
Any correctional officer (CO) that works inside an institution wants ‘The Smooth Shift’-the tour of duty where there are minimal problems with inmates, everyone gets along and there are few incident reports. Wouldn’t it be nice to work a 12 or 8-hour shift where the inmates are quiet and cooperative? The more years a CO has on the job, the more he or she just wants to work a quiet shift and go home safely.
Cultural diversity training can factor in to trying to achieve a ‘smooth shift’. I present an in service training class in Cultural Diversity, required by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Not only do I discuss the behaviors and customs of several ethnic groups, I also discuss racial profiling. This column will give the corrections trainer some advice on presenting cultural diversity training. First, I advise COs to keep a level head. The problems along the United States southern border are in the news every day. I have encountered COs that are frustrated; some say that if a person enters the United States from another country, especially in the case of illegal aliens, he or she should speak English. In a perfect world, perhaps that is true. However, COs and staff must work with the ‘hand that they are dealt’. Some illegal aliens and legal immigrants are arrested-and some do not speak English. We still must provide safe and humane confinement. What can the line CO do to get more inmates from other countries to learn and speak English? Other than suggesting to the inmate to take English as a Second Language classes, very little. I advise COs to use their training and deal effectively with the problem. Second-realize that we are a mobile country. People from other counties can travel anywhere, thanks to our Interstate Highway system, air travel, etc. As a result, if illegal aliens come in through the southern U.S. border, they can go anywhere in the United States. A trainer should get statistics of the ethnic and race breakdowns in their state and locality. It is important for COs to know the population make-up of the jurisdictions they serve. Third, I discuss the customs of people from other countries or ethnic groups. Many do not look people of authority in the eye. Many are shamed by being arrested and incarcerated; depression and despair may set in. For any cultural diversity trainer, it is advised that you discuss how people from other countries and ethnic groups act. Some are quiet and reserved; others are more animated. Some like to be in close proximity to each other, while people in the U.S. like a little distance between them. Some distrust people in law enforcement because they may have been told by relatives and friends from the ‘old country’ that police and corrections officers are brutal and corrupt. I call this ‘The Front Door Syndrome’. For example, a young person comes into the U.S. and lives with or is raised by an extended family under one roof-parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Some of them remember the old country and may have opinions about the police and prisons-and many are negative. This is what the youth hears when at home-and then goes out the front door into the U.S. community. In an encounter with law enforcement, he or she remembers what their relatives said-it is something to consider. Fourth: Racial profiling, discrimination and using racial/ethnic slurs have no place in law enforcement, including corrections. Racial profiling or the targeting of people for law enforcement stopping, arrest and detention based on race or ethnicity is unconstitutional and illegal. Racial profiling acts under the belief that members of a specific race or ethnic groups are engaging in crimes. Many laws provide relief to individuals who claim that they were targeted by law enforcement in this manner. (Feder, 2012). This is similar to saying that “all young black males are members of a street gang”, or “all Hispanics are illegal aliens”. It uses race instead of looking at facts uncovered in a proper law enforcement investigation, such as eyewitness descriptions, physical evidence, interrogations, etc. Using racial and ethnic slurs is despicable, and any CO that uses them towards staff and inmates should be disciplined and counseled. To get this point across, I play a clip from the 1982 film The Twilight Zone. The clip features the late actor, Vic Morrow ranting to his friends in a bar about the blacks, Asians, and Jews. He did not get a promotion at his job; the promotion went to a Jew. Morrow angrily uses several racial and ethnic slurs in just under five minutes. After the clip-I ask the class if they would like to work with a person like that. Furthermore, I ask them what the inmates would think if they heard a CO speaking that way to them or about them. I state that our ‘smooth shifts’ depend on the inmates receiving respect from us, and treating them as people. We want them to do what we want, and communicate any problems or concerns to us. Treating them as people also means having an understanding of their customs and beliefs. For example, a foreign inmate approaches a lazy CO who has his feet up on the desk (Hopefully this is very rare in many facilities). To that inmate, having another person’s feet pointed at the head is insulting. Or-we use some gestures that we take for granted, such as the ‘thumbs up’ (OK-great!) In some cultures, this gesture means ‘up yours’ (Cotton, 2013). I wrap up the training with advice:
References: Cornelius, Gary F. Cultural Diversity. Jail Staff In-Service Training Seminar, 2018. Cotton, Gayle. (June 13, 2013, updated August 13, 2013). Gestures to Avoid in Cross Cultural Business: In Other Words, ‘Keep Your Fingers to Yourself’. The Huffington Post, Retrieved from https://www.bing.com/search?q=Gestures+to+Avoid+Cotton&form=PRUSEN&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=29bffb0e2530482c9bd3b9df6f0686c5&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=gestures+to+avoid+cotton&sc=0-24&qs=n&sk=&cvid=29bffb0e2530482c9bd3b9df6f0686c5# Feder, Jody. (April 16, 2012). Racial Profiling: Legal and Constitutional Issues. Congressional Research Service. www.crs.gov The Twilight Zone, 1982 Feature Film. Lt. Gary F. Cornelius retired in 2005 from the Fairfax County (VA) Office of the Sheriff, after serving over 27 years in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. His prior service in law enforcement included service in the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division. His jail career included assignments in confinement, work release, programs and classification. He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Criminology, Law and Society Department at George Mason University since 1986, where he has taught four corrections courses. He also teaches corrections in service sessions throughout Virginia, and has performed training and consulting for the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association and the National Institute of Justice. His latest book, The Correctional Officer: A Practical Guide: Third Edition was published in April 2017 by Carolina Academic Press. He has authored several other books in corrections. Gary has received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in Social Science from his alma mater, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and an Instructor Appreciation Award from George Mason University. Visit the Gary Cornelius page Other articles by Cornelius |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Thank For the info Really Help me a lot hope can read more article from this blog. Smart article good writer. Can’t wait to see more articles. Thank You’re your Blog Hey there! This is my first visit to your blog! Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. Angkasa Bali Jual Meja Kantor Kursi Kantor Peralatan Kantor No 1 di Bali Indonesia Angkasa Bali Distributor Peralatan Kantor dan Furniture No 1 di Bali Indonesia Angkasa Malang Jual Peralatan Kantor dan Furniture No 1 di Malang Indonesia Angkasa Bali Jual Peralatan Kantor dan Furniture Terlengkap
Given the UK is the largest cab market per capita in the world. the win spotlights how far minicabit can really go. To cap off another rewarding year, I was also delighted that minicabit came runner up for the inaugural ‘Team of the Year’ category at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. local minibus hire minibus hire cardiff minibus hire leicester thorpe park minibus hire minibus hire ipswich minibus taxi hire
Thanks for sharing this great article. In the article, the author shares his views on cultural diversity training. Hostsailor After reading the article it gives a clear idea of how Cultural diversity training can achieve a smooth shift.
You have shared a piece of very good information about "Cultural diversity training". Your article describes very well about this. Thanks for the information you have shared in your article. seo course in kochi Keep posting more articles that are useful for others. Thank you.
Cultural diversity is remarkable because our country, workplaces, and schools frequently consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic societies dang ky bong88 được bong88 tặng 10% khi nạp tiền bong88. Bong88 khuyen mai vao thứ 3-5-7 hàng tuần. bong88 dang ky đơn giản, trong vòng 3 phút bạn sẽ có được tài khoản bong88 và link vào bong88
PayMyDoctor is where patients or their guardians can pay the emergency clinic charges in less time by sitting at one spot. www.tellpopeyes.com | www.walgreenslistens.com | www.paymydoctor.com
Thanks for sharing this valuable information http://luxuryknit.com/fabric-sourcing-research/. Here they have shared about the Cultural Diversity Training. The points you have shared here on achieving the smooth shift is really interesting. It gives an idea for those who are new to this topic.
Mywifiext net Very interesting topic, thanks for posting.
The phrase cultural diversity can lead to having Prodigy Stop Loss diverse cultures respect each other's idiosyncrasies. Cultural diversity is remarkable because our country, workplaces, and schools frequently consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic societies. Diverse cultural aspects can inspire creativity and encourage innovation.
Fix your website settings, I can't read the whole article because the the side bar is blocking the article.
virtual dice roller
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well! www.aerosoftseo.com
We value the development of students' intellectual, analytical and creative capacities. You will have a fully engaged experience as you learn from talented professors whose approach to the arts is holistic – preparing your heart, mind, body and soul for a career in the arts and performance. Keep updated with Bong88 through our All New B88+. This application provides the up-to-date Live Score, private message and general announcements from đăng ký bong88 đăng ký tk bong88 link vào bong88 đăng ký thành viên bong88