FREE BSCC Corrections Practices and Procedures Questions and Answers
An inmate is entitled to have his rights read to him in which of the following situations?
Explanation:
You are not required to read an inmate his rights when you are carrying out the day-to-day activities of a correctional institution, such as headcount or cell searches for contraband. Undercover officers posing as inmates are also not required to reveal what they are doing. But if an inmate is separated from the rest of the inmate population and questioned about criminal activity, this is considered an interrogation, and that inmate is entitled to a reading of his rights before it begins.
What is the purpose of a shadow board?
Explanation:
Tools can be used as weapons against officers or other inmates and can be used to help facilitate an escape attempt. For this reason, they are kept on wall boards with an outline of each tool drawn around its storage position. This makes it instantly obvious when a tool goes missing.
Which of the following is NOT a valid method of rewarding or punishing inmates?
Explanation:
Inmates have a right to communicate with their attorneys, and correctional institutions may not block mail to or from an inmate's lawyer. Doing so would be an unconstitutional form of punishment. The other choices are all valid methods for rewarding or punishing inmates.
Which of the following is most important for preventing riots or other disturbances?
Explanation:
There are many factors that go into maintaining a calm and safe environment in a correctional institution, and one of the most important is that rules and regulations must be consistently enforced. Laxity, favoritism, and other forms of inconsistency can lead to anger and resentment and should be avoided at all costs.
Are inmates allowed to smoke?
Explanation:
Rules about cigarette smoking and other tobacco use vary by jurisdiction. Until not long ago, virtually all jails and prisons in the United States allowed inmates (and staff) to smoke. Concerns about rising healthcare costs for both smokers and non-smokers led many states to ban smoking in correctional institutions, starting a few decades ago. More than half of the 50 states currently ban smoking, and that number is expected to keep rising.
What is the limit on how many times a month an inmate is allowed to meet with his attorney?
Explanation:
The right to counsel is a fundamental constitutional right, and correctional institutions may not infringe upon it. This does not mean that an inmate can force a jail or prison to allow him to meet with his attorney at 3:00 in the morning, or meet with him every day for hours on end on a regular basis. However, there may be times when an inmate needs to spend a lot of time with his attorney, and institutions cannot have arbitrary policies that interfere, such as a maximum number of meetings per month.
How often should keys, tools, and other equipment be inventoried?
Explanation:
Each officer is responsible for his keys, tools, and equipment issued to him during his shift. In order to keep track of them, they must be accounted for at the beginning and end of every shift. If something is missing, the supervisor must be notified at once. An officer should never falsely sign off on a short count.
Dealing with inmates with which of these conditions would NOT require extra precautions to protect the health of officers and fellow inmates?
Explanation:
Cancer is neither infectious nor contagious. All of the other health conditions listed can possibly be spread to others, so proper precautions must be taken to protect the health of officers and other inmates. Your institution will have detailed policies and procedures for handling such situations.
What should you do in the case of a prisoner who is unconscious and might be having a heart attack?
Explanation:
You should request medical assistance and immediately begin giving chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. This is the general rule, but there could be times when you might have to ignore the rule if following it might endanger you, another officer, or other inmates.
While making rounds, you recognize a new inmate as a friend from high school you later lost contact with. You have not seen him in nearly 10 years. What should you do?
Explanation:
If you come across an inmate you know while working in corrections, you should immediately inform your direct supervisor. This includes close relatives, distant relatives, current friends, friends you have not seen for years, friends you have had a falling out with, former co-workers, and all other past and present acquaintances. The potential for a conflict of interest is high in a situation like this, and failing to notify your supervisor immediately could lead to disciplinary action.
What is the main function of disciplinary actions against inmates?
Explanation:
The main function of disciplinary action is to maintain order in the institution. It should never be used to exact vengeance or "teach someone a lesson." Also, while disciplinary action is not primarily designed to rehabilitate inmates, such rehabilitation may occur in some inmates as a result of maintaining order.