Direct Supervision Jails

Current Projects

Direct Supervision Jails
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Leadership & Management
Mental Illness
Norval Morris Project
Offender Classification
Offender Reentry/Transition
Offender Employment
Parole
PREA / Offender Sexual Abuse
Pretrial
Reducing Offender Risk
Regional Training
Security
Training Design & Development
Women Offenders

Direct Supervision Jails: 2006 Sourcebook
2001 Directory of Direct Supervision Jails
Audits of Podular Direct-Supervision Jails
Interpersonal Communications in the Correctional Setting: IPC
Podular, Direct Supervision Jails: Information Packet
Self-Audit Instrument for Administrators of Direct Supervision Jails: Based on the Measurable Elements of Direct Supervision

More Information

Direct supervision allows correctional officers to interact with inmates inside the housing unit to manage their behavior. Officers in intermittent or remote surveillance jails are less able to avert problem situations.

Key Elements of Direct Supervision

The housing design is podular - Inmates' cells are arranged around a common area (dayroom). There is no secure control booth for the officer or physical barriers between the officer and the inmates. The officer may have a desk or table for paperwork in the dayroom.
The inmate management style is direct supervision - An officer is stationed in the pod with the inmates. The officer moves about the pod and interacts with the inmates to manage their behavior.