New Dimensions in Correctional Education [microform] / Robert Saam

The Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) is currently offering the course, Report Writing for Officers, to teach correctional officers how to write better reports. This course focuses primarily on misconduct reports and supporting memos and touches upon the interdependence the course creates between the areas of treatment and security at PNM, helping these two areas to work more closely together for a common client. The teacher strives to remain as neutral and objective as possible, and this attitude often rubs off on officers, giving them a more objective viewpoint toward inmates. The officers learn to write better, more objective reports. Other dimensions of this course are the officers' improved self-image, self-respect, and self-confidence; inmates' realization of a more equitable due process of law as reports become more objective; and inmates' increased respect for officers who write efficacious reports. (The following handouts are attached: course description; spelling, plurals, possessives, capitalization, and punctuation tests; first course assignment; essentials of a well-written report; and examples of poor reports and a poor supporting memo.) (YLB)