Corrections Meets the Community

CCA Facilities Correct Community Perspectives

Correctional facilities and their neighbors don't always see eye to eye. Brad Adams, public information officer at Marion Adjustment Center, knows this all too well.

“An intern at a local newspaper wrote several negative stories about the facility, but it was clear that he had no idea what actually goes on here," Adams says. "So I invited him to take a tour of the facility. Following the tour, he never wrote a negative story about us again; in fact, he wrote a favorable story about CCA."

Adams witnessed a similar transformation with a local radio disc jockey who aired negative press about CCA. After touring the facility, she quickly changed her tune. Adams is one of many CCA employees who understand the necessity of effective community relations. Cultivating such understanding goes far in demystifying a misunderstood industry, according to John Sugrue, warden at California City Correctional Center.

“For many years, residents didn’t have an idea of what prisons did," Sugrue says.

He believes that popular television series, like "Prison Break" and "Oz" perpetuate stereotypes about corrections. But many CCA facilities are actively reaching out to keep their neighbors informed and lend a helping hand in the community.

Being a Good Neighbor

Building positive community relationships starts with facility leadership, says Marion Adjustment warden Arvil Chapman.

“There has to be a commitment not only from the warden, but also from the top administrative staff,” says Chapman. “We take our commitment to our community very seriously here.” Getting to know neighbors and maintaining high visibility are also vital. “It's important to make sure the community leaders and other citizens know who you are and what you are about,” says Shelton Richardson, warden at Leavenworth Detention Center. “It's especially important to have those connections before an incident occurs.” Maintaining successful community relations also means spotlighting facility happenings, from announcing new employees and informing the public about career opportunities to hosting public events and sponsoring charity activities.

"Keeping the public engaged with facility news, events and fundraisers are important," says Sam Law, warden at Crossroads Correctional Center.

One way to maintain this connection, he adds, is through media relations. "Christine Timmerman, our public information officer, writes articles about the facility and submits them to several local papers. She highlights facility-related news like the ‘Employee of the Year’ and other happenings that might not appear newsworthy to local media in major cities. But this is small town America, which makes us a more integral part of the community.”

Stand-Out Community Relations Activities

Every Wednesday morning, radio listeners in Shelby, Mont., can hear Law’s voice over the airwaves on a local talk radio program dedicated to all things Crossroads. "We discuss upcoming staff and inmate activities in the facility, as well as any new programs or changes to programs," says Law. "Mark Daniels – the radio announcer – will often ask about the Canine Companions for Independence program we have at the facility; it’s very popular in the community. Sometimes he will put me on the spot with a trivia game similar to ‘Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?’ “

Law is the third warden at Crossroads to participate in a weekly radio show.

Connecting with local law enforcement agencies to help ensure neighborhood safety is just one way California City employees are reaching out. “We donated $3,500 to the police department to train their drug dog,” says Sugrue. “We also meet with them at their emergency preparedness meetings and invite them to be involved in our emergency drills and exercises.”

Marion staff members are proactive in building relationships and serving locally. “We believe in keeping track of all changes in the leadership in the community, including government leaders like city managers and others, and making a point to meet them,” says Richardson. “At times, facility leaders have been members of local organizations, such as the Rotary, or involved in activities like the Boy Scouts.”

Making a Difference

Community engagement benefits local citizens, too.

“The real gain has been to the community,” says Larry Adams, president of the California City Economic Development Corporation. “CCA made a commitment to our community to hire locally and they have carried out that commitment. Also, I know more about prisons and how private corrections industries operate.”

“I’m impressed by the way it’s managed and run,” says Allan Underdal, county commissioner in Shelby, Mont., who’s been a community liaison for the facility from the time it was built. “We’re happy CCA is here in our community and we hope we have a good, long working relationship with them.”

Correct Perspectives, September 2009
by DeAndra Mack

Sound Out

Linda Sevison at Idaho Correctional Center:

There are so many ways that we can reach out into our communities. There is always a need somewhere, and these people have found it and responded to it. Too often, all we see is negative publicity. It good to see positive relationships built as well.