American Jails: Are We Training Our Staff to Fail?

Staff orientation and in-service training have greatly improved in recent years; e-learning and cognitive behavior intervention training have been an important part of this. Yet, we are still experiencing a crippling situation with high turnover and staff burnout. Staff report leaving their positions mainly because of issues with other staff, poor supervisors and a feeling that management cares more about filling positions than about staff well-being. All three of these are the result of poor relationships, and the quality of these relationships is a key factor in the quality of the work culture. It is said that staff do not leave organizations, they leave their supervisors.