Definition
The replication of private sector industries and environments in Correctional Industries (CI) operations includes work processes, job classifications, procedures, equipment, training, certification, and associated methodologies like lean or continuous improvement.
A CI program should create a work environment that emulates real world work experience and effectively trains and prepares incarcerated individuals for transition to private sector employment upon release.
Rationale/Benefits
There are numerous reasons to replicate private industry within Correctional Industries. The most important reason is for incarcerated individuals to experience a real world environment which closely mirrors private industry within the necessary security procedures of the institution. It is the mission of CI to train and prepare incarcerated individuals with transferable skills and help them transition to community life. By utilizing the same processes, equipment, and procedures as the private sector, incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to learn skills and earn credible certifications which can easily transfer to private sector employment upon release.
These job skills, certifications and experiences are often recognized by private industries when considering employment of incarcerated individuals after release. In some cases, it will actually place the formerly incarcerated individual in a more advantageous position during the hiring process than a non-incarcerated individual who does not have job skills, certifications, and valuable work experience.
Soft skills and real life work experience such as being at work on time every day; working in teams; meeting quality standards and productivity quotas prepare incarcerated individuals for private industry and help them readily adapt. Ideally, a recently released incarcerated individual, who has Correctional Industry work experience which replicates private industry, will find a natural transition to the private sector work force.
Job placement and retention after release are evidence of the importance of replicating private sector work.
Practices
- Research private industry.
- Assess private industry operations prior to development, startup and implementation of new industries and operations to ensure jobs are relevant and operations are successful.
- Continually review existing operations and compare with the latest technologies and modern processes.
- Develop relationships with and encourage private industry to establish operations with the Department of Corrections and Correctional Industries either inside or outside the prison.
- Develop and encourage PIE programs to aid in real-world employment.
- Create training opportunities.
- Develop training that offers transferable skill development and certifications
- Develop training that mirrors real world industry opportunities
- Partner with the Department of Labor to create Apprenticeship programs.
- Model the structure of CI operations after industry best practices.
Industry best practices may include:- Provide safety training and requiring safety equipment that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements
- Create job descriptions for incarcerated individual jobs
- Mirror job applications and interview processes
- Mirror a work review process for CI workers
- Structure plant layout of work stations for ultimate efficiency
- Implement Lean manufacturing principles
- Engage in Continuous Improvement methodology
- Use private industry manufacturing partners/consultants
- Utilize private industry quality assurance (QA) standards
- Implement environmental sustainability principles
- Implement preventative maintenance programs
- Utilize customer satisfaction surveys
- Utilize Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications.
- Train incarcerated individuals to use an ERP system within approved limits
- Utilize Materials resource planning (MRP)
- Utilize Capacity Resource Planning (CRP)
- Utilize offenders in administrative and support positions.
- In addition to traditional shop manufacturing jobs, incarcerated individuals should be involved in administrative positions. This can provide training and work experience in areas such as accounting, ERP, engineering, CAD/CAM, production control, inventory management, warehouse operations and customer service.
- Balance the use of technology with maximizing offender job opportunities
- Balance the benefits and need for incarcerated individual jobs versus the utilization of latest technology and automation which replicate private sector industries.
- Incarcerated individual duties should be balanced between providing the maximum number of jobs and lowering costs through the use of technology.
- Implement job and pay progressions for offenders.
- Develop an incarcerated individual pay progression plan
- Implement incentive programs where approved which recognize achievements such as attendance, quality standards and productivity goals
- Obtain compliance verification in conjunction with the Department of Corrections or through external sources.
Compliance may be obtained through audits or assessments such as:- Security Audits
- Safety Audits
- Environmental Audits
- Workforce Development Assessments
- ACA Audits
- PIECP Assessments
Measurements
- Competitive cost/pricing, quality, just-in-time and on-time delivery
- Percent of offenders working after release compared to offenders without Correctional Industry Experience
- Reduced recidivism rates for ex-offenders that participated in Correctional Industries while incarcerated
Resources
American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO and NCLE)
American Quality Institute
APICS
Association for Linen Management (ALM) (Formerly NALM)
International Organization of Standards
National Association of Manufacturers
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Tools
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) engineering and design applications/software
- Computer-Aided Manufacturing applications/software (CAM)
- Enterprise Resource Planning applications/software (ERP)
- Just-in-Time Manufacturing (JIT)
- Lean Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement