EDITOR'S CORNER

Effective communication is the cornerstone to projecting an image or idea to an audience that is not familiar with your work or mission. Corrections can be particularly “hand-cuffed” when communicating with the public because many stories about the field come from the media, who present information through their own filters.

Len Sipes, a communications professional in Washington, DC, tells us that it is high time corrections takes control of how they communicate with the public, without interference from those who may misinterpret information or intentions. He says podcasts are the way to achieve this communications freedom and encourages every agency to pursue this surprisingly inexpensive and not-too-difficult strategy.
Jim

Tell us what you think at editor@corrections.com.

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FEATURED STORY

So you want to podcast?

By Leonard A. Sipes, Jr.

Telling your story without the media filter

We started podcasting in October of 2006. As the chair of the website committee for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, it was our desire to add audio and video content to our redesigned website,www.csosa.gov. The new site will be up and running this summer.

CSOSA is a federal, executive branch entity providing parole and probation services to Washington, D.C. It has a national reputation for excellence in design and execution, so we wanted a site to match our reputation. We desired an experience that would be user-friendly with a choice to read, listen or watch story-based accounts of our operations.

In consultations with our IT department, they suggested doing more than adding audio of video content. They suggested we provide audio and video podcasting. More

Have a story idea or article? Send them to editor@corrections.com.

READER FEEDBACK

Regarding Bumpy road for community treatment programs, 4/16/07

I think it speaks volumes about the issues facing not only jails but prisons in general. The economic impact of incarcerating non-violent offenders is staggering, and we will continue to face issues of overcrowding and understaffing.
DG, South Carolina Department of Corrections

Send letters to the editor to editor@corrections.com.
When sending a response, please reference the article.

LOOKING AHEAD

Developing Stories Upcoming stories on Corrections.com and the Corrections Connection ezine CO e-memorial Mock Riot review Indiana Father In/Out program Tell us what you'd like to read about!

Focus Issues 2007 May/June Technology and Security - new technology, conferences July Threat Groups - gangs, procedures on managing, avoiding August Off the Clock - What practitioners do in their leisure time We are currently accepting submissions for all issues. Contribute

CORRECTIONS.COM FEATURE STORIES

Feeling the pain

Lethal injection has been at the center of heated debates, execution appeals and numerous lawsuits for corrections departments across the country. More

Foundations - We are who they say we are

They say that perception is reality. It does not matter how well you know your own abilities, values and history. It is natural that others will view you through their own perceptions and experiences. More

New weapons in the raging HIV battle

Maraviroc and Raltegravir may not stir emotions in many folks working inside corrections or even in facility health care units, but they did excite the Infectious Diseases in Corrections Report staff enough to include information about these two new antiretroviral agents in their coverage of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. More

BUSINESS NEWS

American Assn. of Anger Management Providers elects new president

The American Association of Anger Management Providers appoints a number one rated Anderson and Anderson anger management provider–Carlos R. Todd, as President. More

Triton Industries announces corporate membership

Triton Industries, Inc. located in Chicago Illinois has announced that it has become a corporate member of Corrections.com. More

American Correctional Health Services Association (ACHSA) to hold national roundtable on medication assisted therapy and harm reduction in correctional settings

Announcing a National Roundtable Meeting on Medication Assisted Therapy and Harm Reduction in Correctional Settings to be held on June 4, 2007 in conjunction with the American Correctional Health Services Association (ACHSA) 2007 Multidisciplinary Professional Development Conference in Reno, Nevada June 5-7, 2007. More

CAREER WATCH

Baldwin, Gnall take top posts John Baldwin is the new Iowa Department of Corrections Director. He will oversee approximately 8,900 inmates in nine state prisons and about 30,000 community corrections offender on parole, probation and work-release.More

Visit our job center today Employers: Post Jobs View Resumes Job Seekers: Post Resume Search Jobs

EVENTS

OLETC Mock Prison Riot

Date: 5/6/07 - 5/9/07
The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center (NCLETTC) and the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation (WVHTCF) annually host a Mock Prison Riot on the grounds of the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville. The purpose of the riot is to showcase emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies and to give corrections officers and tactical team members an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging technologies in riot training scenarios. More

Licensed Vocational Nurse Hiring Workshop

Date: 5/10/07
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) could be the answer if you are seeking a rewarding and stable professional career in a safe and secure environment. More

Emotional Survival for Public Safety Personnel

Date: 5/21/07
This course addresses the dynamics of a public safety career. We enter as idealistic and committed employees and along the way have to find ways to avoid becoming cynical, angry and self destructive. More

Verbal Judo: Excellence in Tactical Communications

Date: 5/23
Course content helps enhance safety, diffuse dangerous situations, lessen stress at home and work. More

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.
- Yogi Berra