By Leischen Stelter
Many assume working in a volatile and often dangerous environment surrounded by criminal offenders would be the leading cause of stress for officers, but that’s not the case, said AMU criminal justice professor Dr. Michael Pittaro during his keynote address to the New Jersey Chapter of the American Correctional Association (NJACA) conference.
By Leischen Stelter
Adopting a different leadership style could have a dramatic impact on correctional officers and improve the effectiveness of correctional facilities. Learn more about this style of leadership and how it can help boost morale and satisfaction among correctional officers and change the culture of corrections.
By Michael Pittaro and Hasshan Batts
In a criminal justice system filled with more stories of failure than success, one man’s personal journey demonstrates the importance of second chances. Read about the experience of former inmate Hasshan Batts. His story can serve to educate those of us working in the criminal justice system about the inmate experience.
By Michael Pittaro
There are more seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals imprisoned in correctional institutions today than in all U.S. state hospitals combined. Such a reality requires a major shift in thinking, practice and policy for correctional facilities.
With more than 2 million individuals incarcerated in federal and state prisons—the largest correctional population in the world—correctional facilities can play a large role in protecting the environment and sustaining natural resources for current and future generations. AMU criminal justice professor, Michael Pittaro, writes about the benefits of correctional facilities adopting environmentally sustainable “green” practices that can also save a considerable amount of money. Learn more about how correctional facilities can adopt green technologies.
The suicide rate among correctional officers is significantly higher than other occupations and twice as high as police officers. Yet, the topic of suicide and the stressors contributing to suicide are rarely discussed. AMU professor Michael Pittaro recently presented to correctional representatives from 14 southern states about suicide awareness and the need for a change in leadership style.
The number of females in prison, jail, and probation populations has grown at a considerably faster rate than males. Despite this growth, the correctional system is failing to address the rehabilitation needs of women during and after incarceration. AMU professor Michael Pittaro talks to one former inmate about her experience in the prison system and the support she’s received now that she’s on parole.
On June 6, convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from a maximum security prison in New York and remain at large, despite a massive nationwide manhunt involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
The primary suspect in assisting the prisoners’ elaborate escape plan is Joyce “Tillie” Mitchell, who worked in the prison as a tailor shop instructor. AMU’S Michael Pittaro discusses the ways inmates seek to manipulate corrections staff and the training needed to educate corrections officers so they do not fall prey to inmate manipulation tactics.
On May 21, the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act was introduced to Congress that would allow state and federal prisoners to receive Pell Grants for a college education, even while incarcerated. There were many reasons why Congress banned Pell Grants to prisoners back in 1994, so why would Congress consider overturning its original decision? AMU professor Michael Pittaro writes about why he opposes this legislation and how there’s not enough research to demonstrate that higher education specifically reduces recidivism. If the Pell Grant program is to be extended, it should focus on providing more money to hard-working, law-abiding students.
One might assume the greatest sources of stress for corrections officers are the threat of physical violence and hardships from working in an understaffed environment, right? As it turns out, those things are not causing officers the most stress. Instead, it is issues with prison administration and inconsistent leadership practices. AMU professor Michael Pittaro writes how prison administrators need to move away from punitive and authoritative styles of leadership and adopt a transformational leadership approach. Read how this style of leadership could help boost morale, improve job satisfaction, and even improve workplace safety.