The One Mistake Nearly Every Correctional Officer Makes Doing Rounds, and How to Fix It
Consistency is typically a good thing in a corrections setting. From the level of detail included in a log to how officers communicate with inmates an...
Consistency is typically a good thing in a corrections setting. From the level of detail included in a log to how officers communicate with inmates an...
There are some inmate tracking features that are straightforward. Then, there are some features that are just simply overlooked. If you want to get th...
While meal management in a correctional facility may seem routine and simple, it comes with its own set of challenges. Ensuring each inmate receives t...
In the world of Command Cloud, the SPARTAN is one of the most universally held (pun intended) components of the officer experience platform (OXP).
You’ve been tasked with looking into GUARDIAN RFID’s Command Cloud. Perhaps you discovered it through an online source or by talking with one of our t...
One of the most common technical questions GUARDIAN RFID gets asked about Command Cloud is: What are its integration capabilities and does Command Clo...
When implementing an inmate tracking system such as GUARDIAN RFID, the time required for deployment can vary based on factors such as the size of your...
Deploying new technology in a facility can be daunting for any agency, even so for those who are adopting GUARDIAN RFID. Warriors will inevitably face...
What was once a commonplace system in jails, iButtons and wands were symbiotic devices compromised of a product category known as “guard tour systems....
Innovative technology can help manage your inmate tracking responsibilities to gain better compliance and stronger business outcomes. However, the cos...
One of the most commonly asked questions GUARDIAN RFID receives at demos and tradeshows is: Who’s your biggest competitor? The answer may surprise you...
A common question that GUARDIAN RFID receives from prospects is: Do you interface with Tyler Technologies' jail management system? Yes, we do. In this...
Let’s face it: you’re drowning in passwords. What was once a simple expression of your personality is now a dizzying mix of alphanumeric combinations,...
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Suppose your facility implements GUARDIAN RFID’s Command Cloud and later determines it’s not the right fit for yo...
A common question among jails considering GUARDIAN RFID technology to help with their inmate tracking needs is: Do I need to interface Command Cloud w...
Security rounds are undoubtedly one of the most critical responsibilities of a correctional officer. They are the best opportunity for officers to ens...
On average, 60% of inmate populations using GUARDIAN RFID software will either be prescribed medication or request over-the-counter medication during ...
Officers have dozens, if not hundreds, of inmates in their custody to keep track of. As if remembering all of their names isn’t difficult enough, offi...
If you’ve experienced GUARDIAN RFID software in action – whether during a demo or at a neighboring facility – you know that our platform, Command Clou...
Prison breaks have captured the attention of media and civilians for years, but how many times is a correctional officer involved in, or conducting, t...
Every month, GUARDIAN RFID welcomes Warriors from across the nation to join a live, 60-minute demonstration of how Command Cloud, the first-ever offic...
The undeniable truth in today’s correctional environment is that staff turnover has reached a historic peak. As a result, officers face the challenge ...
Correctional officers regularly monitor inmates' whereabouts, actions, behaviors, meals, supplies, and other tasks as part of their daily responsibili...
Implementing an inmate identification method helps officers track inmate movement, activities, and interactions accurately. Whether it’s a name tag, I...
The role of a correctional officer demands versatility at every turn. Officers are responsible for many tasks that require them to wear various hats e...
Corrections is a fast-paced, high-stress industry where everything can flip upside down at the drop of a hat. If staff are unaware of what their team ...
Taking care of your mental health as a corrections officer is difficult enough, let alone managing inmates’ emotional wellness too. Correctional facil...
No two facilities’ operations are identical. Each of their standards, goals, and procedures makes them unique. However, there is one thing that all fa...
Correctional facilities can only be successful when the safety, security, and overall well-being of both the inmates and staff are prioritized. This i...
Times are tough to say at the very least, especially with prices constantly increasing without added funds. Today’s correctional landscape makes it di...
As a jail administrator, budget limitations are a harsh reality that can feel extremely restricting. It usually results in limited resources and hinde...
One of the most important roles of a correctional officer is to efficiently track the inmates in their custody. From performing timely cell checks to ...
“I promise I won’t snitch.” “Everyone stretches the truth a bit.” “Can’t you cut me some slack?” “One favor won’t hurt anybody.” “You can bend the rul...
“If it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen.” This is a statement that every corrections professional has heard at some point during their tenure. Show...
“How on Earth did we miss that?” This question has likely crossed the mind of every corrections professional at one point or another, especially when ...
Out of all the time-sensitive demands, security-critical protocols, and operational tasks that correctional officers are responsible for, one of the m...
When an agency is starting to expand its technology landscape, it’s natural to have questions about what the process will look like and what the futur...
Over the years, we have increasingly become more aware of the power of terminology. Whether to describe someone's education level, job title, or perso...
Updated: 03/11/25 Completing rounds is one of the most important duties a correctional officer performs, serving as the foundation of effective inmate...
Since 2020, most industries have undergone record-breaking numbers of turnover. Studies found that the most significant reason behind these sky-high s...
In today’s world, we are all too familiar with accessing anything and everything with just a few clicks of our cell phones. When mobile phones launche...
Whether they come from a family with a corrections history or are a first-generation correctional officer, walking through the front doors on Day 1 ca...
A common misconception is that correctional officers only work in jails and prisons with many overlook that COs also work in a variety of other enviro...
We know that corrections officers have all experienced an inmate act out of pocket. Screaming. Kicking. Cursing. Self-harming. You name it, they’ve se...
Demanding work hours, overcrowding, occupational danger, noncompetitive compensation., staffing shortages, and burnout are only a few of the reasons w...
Let’s start off with complete transparency, we know technology hasn’t always been a knight in shining armor. We have all had our fair share of tech fa...
The debate over what items an inmate can have is a tale as old as time. However, this debate becomes a little more heated regarding basic hygiene mate...
The clock is ticking down to chow time. You know the drill. As you start to make your way toward the housing units to dispense meals, you realize it’s...
Reflecting on the 23 years I have worked at the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, I look back on this journey that started on December 6, 1999,...
If you've used GUARDIAN RFID’s SPARTAN, you're likely familiar with the “purge siren” that sounds when a round is overdue. That blaring alarm can trig...
Paper logs were once the pinnacle practice of logging rounds. Fortunately, a lightbulb turned on in someone’s head and they recognized that there had ...
As human beings, we are hardwired to experience stress. Whether the feeling is mental or physical, our bodies are trained to respond to stress in a un...
As your Go-Live date rapidly approaches, it’s natural to have a flurry of questions and concerns about the transition. This pivotal moment represents ...
Here at GUARDIAN RFID, we pride ourselves on being the global leader in inmate management and tracking systems. We are dedicated to providing correcti...
When you’re in the market for new goods and services, sitting through monotonous vendor product demonstrations can be quite dreadful. It’s just as muc...
When we hear the term “rehabilitation,” some may initially picture physical therapy after an accident or healing from an addiction. Google defines reh...
Unfortunately, the nation has experienced an influx of shortages since the pandemic, including limited staffing across almost every industry. Companie...
The mental health crisis within the corrections industry is reaching unprecedented levels, and the urgency to address this issue has never been greate...
Staff issue supplies to inmates regularly, ranging from general hygiene supplies to legal mail, but which ones should you be tracking? Most initial th...
Without a doubt, documenting your rounds with pen and paper is the cheapest option. The term "cheapest" was used instead of "most cost-effective" inte...
After learning a new lesson, have you ever thought “Well, that would’ve been nice to know earlier”? We’ve all had moments where we wished we’d known s...
*Enters password* “Incorrect password” “Incorrect password” “Incorrect password” Resets password “New password cannot be your previous password” Imagi...
From the moment we’re born, our brain is already working overtime. In fact, between birth and the age of five, 85% of the brain is formed. And believe...
As a global leader in inmate tracking and officer experience platforms (OXPs), GUARDIAN RFID was pleased to announce that Ken Dalley, Founder, Chairma...
Taking on a “supervisor” role in any profession is an impressive advancement. But what does it mean to be a supervisor in corrections? What are you ex...
A simple Wikipedia search of “corrections officer” will tell you it’s a “uniformed law enforcement official responsible for maintaining the order and ...
GUARDIAN RFID marks an exciting achievement with the launch of Command Cloud, the world’s first officer experience platform (OXP) that uses data fusio...
When it’s time for a headcount, most inmates know the drill. They comply, return to their assigned cell or bunk, and wait to be physically identified ...
It’s easy for an inmate to blend in with the rest of the facility’s population. They’re all wearing the exact same uniform that every other inmate wea...
The transition from paper to inmate tracking technology has continued to grow as a topic of conversation among corrections Consider Mark Cowley from J...
Doesn't it always seem like once you’ve gotten the hang of a particular method, something new and improved comes along? You just bought an iPhone 11 a...
In legal terms, contraband is known to be items that are illegal to have in one’s possession, which is ironic, isn’t it? The fact that some inmates do...
Whether it’s an 8-year-old girl trying to sell Girl Scout cookies or a 17-year-old boy selling popcorn for his football team's fundraiser, it’s always...
If you've worked in a correctional facility, you're no stranger to the complexities of handling grievances. Whether it’s an inmate alleging they misse...
Suicide affects all different kinds of people from all different walks of life. Different cultures. Different races. Different income classes. Differe...
Jeff Kovar, Strategic Account Executive, has visited over a hundred jails and prisons throughout his career. During this time, a recurring theme emerg...
Buckle up, this blog is about the famous ole’ Squat and Cough. For those who don’t know what this is, search it on Urban Dictionary (not with children...
Dogs are often called a man’s best friend, especially for those who depend on them for assistance with daily tasks. Professionally trained service dog...
With a diverse population that includes individuals with various disabilities, correctional facilities need to implement proactive and comprehensive s...
If you work in corrections, odds are you’re familiar with how often inmates complain about receiving meals. Luckily, there is a way to eliminate inmat...
Mark Cowley, Jail Operations at GUARDIAN RFID, brings over thirty-three years of law enforcement experience to the table. His career began with eighte...
When you think of a restraint chair, you may think about a drug smuggler who failed his mission duct-taped to a chair, hooded, and beaten. These unrea...
You should know now before reading further, this blog isn’t going to be your every “get rich quick” reading. In fact, this is not a quick fix at all. ...
Accepting a position to protect America’s Thin Gray Line can come with dangerous scenarios. Correctional officers are trained to take practical measur...
If you’ve watched Orange is the New Black, you’d know that in Season 3 there are a group of general population inmates who are jealous of those who ar...
Inmates are masters at finding loopholes in a facility’s security operations. Whether it is finding a couple of extra minutes for a phone call or an e...
The corrections profession is like none other. Over 400,000 brave men and women work eight to twelve-hour shifts to maintain order within the walls th...
When you first hear the term “SPARTAN,” you might think of the mobile device used by correctional officers for inmate tracking. However, the SPARTAN d...
Steve Maynard, Strategic Account Executive at GUARDIAN RFID, worked behind the walls of a correctional facility for nearly 15 years. But where did his...
Mark Penrod, Project Manager at GUARDIAN RFID, has over 12 years of experience with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, finishing his journey as th...
When the average person thinks about life in prison, they think of the Hollywood movies where prisoners are kept in cages and treated like animals. Ho...
If your agency isn’t required to follow state policies or standards, should you care about officer jail checks? Are you prepared for potential legal i...
If you’re one of the several counties that have heard the rumor about the new Polk Co. Processing Center being extremely appealing and innovative, buc...
We’ve all used a camera before to capture meaningful moments. Whether you’ve used a Polaroid to take a photo of your baby’s first steps, or your cell ...
Caterina Spinaris, Ph.D., LPC, Founding Director of Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, has 21 years of experience working with correctional officers...
Rounds are a critical component in securing the safety of correctional facilities. There are often policies surrounding how rounds are completed to en...
Correctional officers are adept at juggling numerous responsibilities and wearing several different hats. So, to be successful in this position, they ...
At the end of the day, jail and prison officers have the same goal of ensuring their inmates’ needs are met. Of course, this can only be accomplished ...
Managing a jail or prison facility like a well-oiled machine isn’t a simple task. Integrating standardization within a facility is crucial to creating...
What do corrections professionals often dislike? Change, and the way things are! Whether it involves a new policy, a new law, new technology, or new l...
Preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a global priority. From the start of the pandemic, U.S. officials have recogni...
Pandemics are nothing new to us. Over the past 35 years, we have fought through HIV/AIDS, SARS, EBOLA, MERS, Influenza, and now, COVID-19. What is new...
Most jails in the United States use their jail management system (JMS) to assign inmates to specific housing units and cells. This practice enhances s...
Introduction As is the case in many professions, people want to move up the ladder. Some want an increase in pay, some want a change in workplace duti...
Greg Piper here with another shift briefing regarding Medication Administration. Q: How does a Medication Manager benefit corrections professionals as...
COVID-19 has introduced significant challenges and disruptions to everyday life, affecting nearly every aspect of our routines. From mandated social d...
Some of the most common questions we receive from customers and potential customers concern data ownership: Who owns the data created digitally when w...
In corrections, staff turnover can reach a staggering 65%. This highlights a critical reality: employees often leave because of their supervisors, not...
Masks are becoming a commonplace part of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many Americans. This includes industries that didn’t use protective m...
Article by Aric Asplund, President of International EnviroGuard The brave men and women who work with hardened criminals in the nation’s prison system...
How can the GUARDIAN RFID solution, specifically the SPARTAN, help protect your staff and facility with the inevitable lawsuits from an offender claim...
Author: Sidney Lopez, CEO/ Chief Instructor of Tactics & Operations Group-US (TOG-US) LLC.
Hi, I'm Ann Spalding and I am a public health physician. I've been trained in internal medicine and infectious disease. I have a Master's in Public He...
We've all heard the saying: "If it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen." This rings especially true in the field of corrections. Without proper docume...
Believe it or not, people in corrections are very creative and like to make up bad-ass names for many things, like “sallyport,” “prison punch,” or “ja...
Author: Sidney Lopez, CEO/ Chief Instructor of Tactics & Operations Group-US (TOG-US) LLC.
I have been training correctional staff for nearly a decade and have used the joke “you are a babysitter of adults” just to get a laugh. In all honest...
We frequently get asked: “How do I download our data?” by GUARDIAN RFID users. This is a great question, but it's important to pinpoint exactly what y...
Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, Inc., is a 2003 Colorado-based 501(c)(3) corporation which helps correctional agencies counter Corrections Fatigu...
By Amy Morgan, MSC, CFRC(D), TECC-LEO If asked which we prefer, feeling happy or feeling depressed, I don’t think any of us would choose “I like to fe...
Contemporary issues such as Hostage Rescue and Active Shooter Concepts in a Correctional Setting are all subjects that in past years have been conside...
Tracking inmate movements between different facilities within a jail or prison system takes thorough training on policy and procedure. Inmate tracking...
With the recent death of high-profile inmate Jeffery Epstein, a light has been shed on a fundamental problem within correctional facilities regarding ...
“Does carrying a mobile scanner pose safety risks to correctional officers?” “Are they too distracting?” “I don’t want my officers staring at a screen...
Whether it’s a simple mistake, forgetfulness, or laziness, mistakes happen. Plain and simple. However, in corrections, even the smallest mistakes can ...
Although it would make everyone’s job easier, it’s impossible to say there’s a way to eliminate meal complaints and grievances entirely. However, ther...
You are a corrections professional, and the odds are NEVER in your favor. While the legal system equips you with authority in your jail, it also offer...
The software platforms used within your facility hold security-critical information, but how do they interact with your enterprise system? An interfac...
The Worth Co. Jail in Northwood, Iowa, has an average daily population ranging between two and five inmates. On quieter days, there may only be one. H...
Senate Bill 1849, more commonly known as the Sandra Bland Act, mandates additional compliance requirements by Texas jails to help ensure the safety an...
Nearly 60% of managers report missing critical information daily due to difficulties in locating it when it's stored on paper. Senior leaders, on aver...
Getting Started On average, the implementation process for GUARDIAN RFID generally takes around 90 days. There are six phases in our implementation pr...
Traditional guard tour systems no longer keep pace with the needs of increasingly savvy corrections professionals. Guard tour offers little near and l...
Zone-based inmate tracking is a powerful, practical alternative to coordinate-based inmate tracking. But how do you determine whether a long-range, zo...
DISCLOSURE: GUARDIAN RFID is a Strategic Business Partner of Spillman Technologies. Spillman Flex’s Jail Management System (JMS) is an on-premises sof...
Whether it be conducting security rounds, ensuring inmates receive their medicine, transporting inmates to different locations, distributing meals, or...
Tired of accumulating and storing boxes upon boxes full of paper logs? How about burning hours upon hours of valuable staff time searching for informa...
Preventing sexual abuse and harassment is a pertinent objective across many, if not all, industries. In recent years, more and more jobs are implement...
Warrior Technology refers to the constant battle corrections professionals face to execute their responsibilities with courage and valor. This bravery...
When you’re working with and managing inmates, you need as much information about them as possible. Inmate information is usually kept in your jail ma...
At one point or another, you’ve likely experienced an inmate complaining about you or another officer. What they’ll allege, and how far they’re willin...
The new era of digital transformation has made waves across the correctional industry, leaving many agencies wondering how to keep their facilities up...
Every day, correctional officers are swamped with seemingly millions of tasks. Their plates are full, to say the least. The last thing they need to wo...
Performing rounds quickly while staying diligent and providing accurate documentation can be difficult without a little help. When there are hundreds ...